Effect of Rate of Dosing with Elemental Mercury Vapor on Brain Uptake of Mercury.

摘要

Biological variations can account for some of the differences in dose-response that have been reported in the literature on occupational mercurialism. One of the errors in estimating dose has been in the use of calculated time weighted average exposures based on measurements of elemental mercury vapor in the general work environment. Some of the differences in mercury concentrations in the general work environment and in the micro-environment next to contaminated hands and clothing were reported by Henderson (1972). Another error in estimating dose of elemental mercury vapor has been the use of the work time only in calculating time weighted average exposure. If hands and clothing are contaminated with elemental mercury, this contamination can be a source of continuing exposure to elemental mercury vapor for the 16 hours off the job. Another possible source of error in the understanding of the effects of exposure to elemental mercury vapor may result from considering equivalent time weighted average exposures to be equivalent in effect without consideration of the rate of dosing.