revised final - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ...

MERCURY
Ocular Effects
2. HEALTH EFFECTS
Metallic Mercury. Ocular effects observed following acute exposure included red, burning eyes and
conjunctivitis (Bluhm et al. 1992a; Sexton et al. 1976). Workers chronically exposed to mercury have also
exhibited a peculiar grayish-brown or yellow haze on the outer surface of their lenses (Atkinson 1943;
Bidstrup et al. 1951; Locket and Nazroo 1952). These case studies contained insufficient quantitative data
for dose-response assessment.
No studies were located regarding ocular effects in animals after inhalation exposure to metallic mercury.
Organic Mercury. No studies were located regarding ocular effects in humans or animals after inhalation
exposure to organic mercury.
Other Systemic Effects
Metallic Mercury. Initial exposure to high concentrations of elemental mercury vapors produces a
syndrome similar to "metal fume fever," which is characterized by fatigue, fever, chills, and an elevated
leukocyte count. Accordingly, several studies have reported fever and/or chills in humans after exposure to
high concentrations of elemental mercury vapors (Aronow et al. 1990; Bluhm et al. 1992a; Garnier et al.
1981; Lilis et al. 1985; McFarland and Reigel 1978; Milne et al. 1970; Schwartz et al. 1992; Snodgrass et
al. 1981).
Organic Mercury. No studies were located regarding other systemic effects in humans or animals after
inhalation exposure to organic mercury.
2.2.1.3 Immunological and Lymphoreticular Effects
Metallic Mercury. The immune reaction in humans to mercury exposure appears to be idiosyncratic, with
either increases or decreases in immune activity depending on individual genetic predisposition (see
Section 2.4). Therefore, it is not surprising that several studies of workers exposed to elemental mercury
vapor have failed to show consistent or marked changes in immune function parameters in large
populations. For example, no effect on serum immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, or IgM) and no increase in
autoantibody titres were observed in a group of chloralkali workers exposed for an average of 13.5 years
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