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Many older homes are equipped with mercury-containing gas regulators that reduce the pressure of natural gas in the mains to the low pressure used in home gas piping. Removal of these regulators can result in elemental mercury spills inside the home. In the summer of 2000, mercury spills were discovered in the basements of several Chicago-area home...
Citations
... Mercury oxide, the raw material for mercury batteries, often undergoes breakdown to yield primary mercury. Any kind of food can consume or suck in the highly fatal mercury admixture, and sea fish such as tuna and shark have been known to consume a portion of lead [103]. Humans can come into contact with mercury in a variety of ways, such as through tainted food, the battery industry, or dental amalgam [104]. ...
Along with serving as drug delivery sensors and flexible devices, hydrogels are playing pioneering roles in water purification. Both chemical and radiation methods can produce hydrogels, with the latter method gaining preference for its pure adducts. The water treatment process entails the removal of heavy and toxic metals (above the threshold amount), dyes, and solid wastes from industrial effluents, seawater, and groundwater, as well as sterilization for microorganism destruction. This review analyzed the different types of hydrogels produced by applying various radiations for water treatment. Particularly, we examined the hydrogels created through the application of varying levels of gamma and electron beam radiation from the electron gun and Co-60 sources. Moreover, we discuss the optimized radiation doses, the compositions (monomers and polymers) of raw materials required for hydrogel preparation, and their performance in water purification. We present and predict the current state and future possibilities of radiation-induced hydrogels. We explain and compare the superiority of one radiation method over other radiation methods (UV-visible, X-ray, microwave, etc.) based on water treatment.
... ATSDR states that an exposure to a Hg 0 concentration greater than 10 µg/m 3 could be associated with human health effects [42]. This value (10 µg/m 3 ), assumed by ATSDR as the lowest toxic concentration level for humans (TCL), is also reported in other studies as the threshold value beyond which human urinary levels of Hg start to increase [96][97][98]. Similarly, Richardson et al. [79], based on Ngim et al. [58], refers to a LOAEL of 14 µg/m 3 as indicative for central nervous system effects related to an occupational Hg 0 exposure; this value is converted to 6 µg/m 3 LOAEL for a continuous (i.e., chronic) exposure. ...
Mercury (Hg) is a toxic and persistent element, easily bio-accumulable in the food chain with several dangerous effects on people’s health. Among Hg airborne species, gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) is dominant, more persistent in the atmosphere, and highly absorbable by humans. The issue of atmospheric Hg pollution is largely discussed by several environmental agencies, giving rise to a number of remarkably different threshold values beyond which exposure to Hg in its different species is deemed dangerous. The present paper presents a comprehensive compilation of the threshold limit values (TLVs) suggested/recommended by environmental health agencies regarding the exposition to airborne Hg. The work tries to clarify the applicability of the threshold concentrations, their terminology, and the methods by which they were calculated. The most critical key-points in Hg TLVs derivation and use are stressed. The literature revision identifies about 20 TLVs: among these, only four are legally transposed into environmental laws, while the majority are just recommendations. There is a high variability of suggested values for gaseous Hg TLVs, mostly resulting from the different methodologies applied for their calculation. This difference is the consequence of a considerable independence among agencies that suggest or enforce Hg limit values. However, in the past years, a generalized substantial lowering of the Hg TLVs, both for chronic and occupational exposure, has been observed. This tendency reflects a revision trend towards a more protective approach for people’s health.
... Mercury oxide is often degraded to produce primary mercury and is used to produce mercury batteries. Mercury compounds are highly toxic if ingested or inhaled as there is in the foods and marine life of fish such as shark and tuna percentage of lead in its tissues [9]. The human being can be exposed to Hg through many ways like contaminated food, battery industry or dental amalgam [10]. ...
The objective of this work is to prepare biodegradable hydrogel of wheat flour/acrylamide (F/AAm) using gamma radiation for the removal of Pb²⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions from waste solutions. Characterization of prepared (F/PAAm) hydrogel was carried out by FTIR, SEM, XRD and EDX. Factors affecting on the adsorption process such as pH of the medium, initial concentration, contact time and temperature were studied. The obtained hydrogel has highly swelling properties reached to over 9000 (%). The metal uptake of (F/PAAm) hydrogel for Pb²⁺ and Hg²⁺ were found to be 24.3 and 15.6 (mg/g), respectively. Kinetic and isotherm models were studied.
... A dentist's office was reported to have high indoor airborne Hg due to the use of dental amalgam containing Hg [31,32]. Broken Hg thermometers or Hg manometers [33], gas pressure regulators containing Hg [34] and Hg in paint [35] are possible sources of elevated concentrations of Hg in indoor air. The highest Hg contamination we observed was in a garage at the Bartlett Experimental Forest, which houses snowmobiles. ...
Mercury (Hg) in tree wood has been overlooked, in part because concentrations are so low as to be below detection limits of some analytical methods, but it is potentially important to forest ecosystem processes and budgets. We tested methods for the preparation and determination of Hg in tree wood by analysing samples of four tree species at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, USA, using thermal decomposition, catalytic conversion, amalgamation and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (USEPA Method 7473). Samples that were freeze-dried or oven-dried at 65°C were suitable for determination of Hg, whereas oven-drying at 103°C resulted in Hg losses, and air-drying resulted in Hg gains, presumably due to sorption from indoor air. Mean (±SE) concentrations of Hg tree bole wood were 1.75 ± 0.14 ng g⁻¹ for American beech, 1.48 ± 0.23 ng g⁻¹ for sugar maple, 3.96 ± 0.19 ng g⁻¹ for red spruce and 4.59 ± 0.06 ng g⁻¹ for balsam fir. Based on these concentrations and estimates of wood biomass by species based on stand inventory, we estimated the Hg content of wood in the reference watershed at Hubbard Brook to be 0.32 g ha⁻¹, twice the size of the foliar Hg pool (0.15 g ha⁻¹). Mercury in wood deserves more attention and is feasible to measure using appropriate techniques.
... Private residences made up 16.7% of 406 elemental mercury spills recorded in 14 states in the US over a period of 6 years (Zeitz et al., 2002). In homes mercury can evaporate from broken objects such as antique or replica silvered mirrors, lamps and vases, technical appliances such as electrical switches, mercury discharge lamps, gas regulators and measurement instruments such as thermometers, thermostats, barometers, blood-pressure gauges and pendulum clocks (CDC, 2007;Hryhorczuk et al., 2006). In the US 42% of the residential spills were related to dropped or spilled mercury containers. ...
... Mercury beads extracted from seams and cracks in the floor will break up into smaller aerosols and will also likely be evaporated due to the heat produced by the vacuum cleaner and be dispersed. The formation of ultrafine condensation nuclei increased the dispersion supported by air circulation in the residence (Schwartz et al., 1992;Hryhorczuk et al., 2006). When the air cools down it is likely that ultrafine mercury particles may soil surfaces (Baughman, 2006). ...
... Literature review. Ten published reports met the criteria for inclusion (Azziz Baumgartner et al. 2007;Baughman 2006;CDC 2005aCDC , 2005bCherry et al. 2002;Gattineni et al. 2007;Gordon 2004;Hryhorczuk et al. 2006;Johnson 2004;Tominack et al. 2002). ...
... The largest potential source for homebased exposure was mercury spills from gas regulators. One publication esti mated that mercury was spilled in 1,363 homes (Hryhorczuk et al. 2006). Although many chil dren were likely exposed, information is not available to determine how many children were actually exposed in these 1,363 homes. ...
... In 2000, a homeowner near Chicago, Illinois, discovered mercury in his basement after his meter and regulator were relocated. This homeowner called the regional poi son control center, initiating what eventu ally became a multistate response to 500,000 potentially contaminated homes and busi nesses (Hryhorczuk et al. 2006). Some folk healers recommend oral inges tion of mercury to treat empacho (indigestion). ...
Objective:
Concern for children exposed to elemental mercury prompted the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review the sources of elemental mercury exposures in children, describe the location and proportion of children affected, and make recommendations on how to prevent these exposures. In this review, we excluded mercury exposures from coal-burning facilities, dental amalgams, fish consumption, medical waste incinerators, or thimerosal-containing vaccines.
Data sources:
We reviewed federal, state, and regional programs with information on mercury releases along with published reports of children exposed to elemental mercury in the United States. We selected all mercury-related events that were documented to expose (or potentially expose) children. We then explored event characteristics (i.e., the exposure source, location).
Data synthesis:
Primary exposure locations were at home, at school, and at other locations such as industrial property not adequately remediated or medical facilities. Exposure to small spills from broken thermometers was the most common scenario; however, reports of such exposures are declining.
Discussion and conclusions:
Childhood exposures to elemental mercury often result from inappropriate handling or cleanup of spilled mercury. The information reviewed suggests that most releases do not lead to demonstrable harm if the exposure period is short and the mercury is properly cleaned up.
Recommendations:
Primary prevention should include health education and policy initiatives. For larger spills, better coordination among existing surveillance systems would assist in understanding the risk factors and in developing effective prevention efforts.
... Hg 0 is known to be present at a wide variety of sites in Canada (as elsewhere), including navigation lightstations (used as liquid bearing for the lens; Wilson et al., 2003;van Netten and Teschke, 1988), surface water level monitoring sites and stations (use of Hg manometers; OAEI, 2000), along oil and gas pipelines (use of Hg manometers to monitor pipeline pressure; Wren and Farrell, 1995), and at historic gold mining sites (used as an amalgamating agent to sequester gold from crushed ore; Parsons et al., 2004). These situations often give rise to nonoccupational exposures to Hg 0 , as do situations of home contamination due to in-home spills (Hryhorczuk et al., 2006), redevelopment of contaminated industrial buildings for residential use (Orloff et al., 1997), and off-gassing of Hg-containing consumer products (such as paint; Agocs et al., 1990;Beusterien et al., 1991). Such non-occupational exposures must be assessed and managed employing a non-occupational regulatory exposure level (REL) appropriate to the general public and, in particular, children. ...
There are four published reference exposure levels (RELs) for Hg(0), ranging from 0.09microg/m(3) to 1microg/m(3). All RELs were derived from the same toxicological database, predominantly of male chloralkali workers. Some key factors are apparent which make the use of that database questionable for REL derivation. Occupational studies of chloralkali workers are not an appropriate basis for a REL for Hg(0). Concomitant exposure to chlorine gas (Cl(2)) diminishes uptake and effects of Hg(0) exposure. There are gender differences in Hg(0) uptake, distribution and excretion, with females at potentially greater risk from Hg(0) exposure than males. Studies of chloralkali workers focused almost exclusively on adult males. Recent investigations of dental professionals (dentists, technicians, assistants) have failed to define a threshold in the dose-response relationship linking Hg(0) with neurobehavioural outcomes, an observation generally ignored in Hg(0) REL development. Finally, there is a growing database on genetic predisposition to health effects associated with Hg(0) exposure. Based on these considerations, we propose a different key study for REL derivation, one that involved male and female dental professionals without concomitant Cl(2) exposure. Adjusting the LOEAL to continuous exposure and applying appropriate UF values, we propose a Canadian REL for Hg(0) of 0.06microg/m(3).
... First in Chicago (IL) and then in Detroit (MI), contractors were hired by the utilities to replace pre-1961 regulators that used Hg in an overpressure safety mechanism with non-Hg-containing regulators. Unfortunately, Hg was spilled during removal in more than 1,300 homes in the Chicago area (Hryhorczuk et al., 2006;Hood, 2006) and approximately 60 homes in the Detroit area (Exponent, 2002). ...
... Its low detection limit is achieved through a combination of multi-path optical cells and high-frequency modulation of polarized light used to perform atomic absorption spectrometry. The Lumex, with a range of 0.002−20 µg/m 3 , is more sensitive than the Jerome and is commonly used to quantify Hg vapor exposure (Garetano et al., 2006;Hryhorczuk et al., 2006). ...
Hg vapor concentrations were measured in an indoor full-scale test environment representative of homes in the rural highlands of Peru, the location of an Hg spill in June 2000. We tested several scenarios of liquid Hg spilled onto a compacted dirt floor in a test room to determine the effect of various parameters, including liquid Hg surface area, temperature, air change rate, and Hg oxidation on room vapor concentrations. The measurements demonstrated that an increase in surface area and/or temperature significantly increased the evaporation rate, whereas oxidation (or age of the Hg) reduced the evaporation rate. We also verified that the Hg vapor analyzers used to test indoor air were capable of detecting very small spills.
... There were several articles with retrospective data on air concentrations associated with clinical effects, ranging from cohort studies to case reports and case series. Specifically, there were five level 2b articles (6,7,57-59) and 22 level 4 articles (5,8,15,(60)(61)(62)(63)(64)(65)(66)(67)(68)(69)(70)(71)(72)(73)(74)(75)(76)(77)(78). The lowest air mercury concentration associated with clinical effects was 0.0042 mg/m 3 . ...
... Positive urine bioassays were more strongly associated with maximum air mercury concentrations greater than 0.01 mg/m 3 on the first floors of the homes. However, symptoms were not reported for individuals in the affected homes (69). Another study suggested that higher air mercury concentrations correlated with higher urine mercury concentrations among chronically exposed individuals but did not suggest a threshold concentration. ...
... There were three level 2b articles (6,7,58) and 22 level 4 articles (5,8,16,18,21,23,(66)(67)(68)(69)(71)(72)(73)(74)(78)(79)(80)(81)(82)(83)(84)(85) with data on spill amounts associated with clinical effects. The smallest well-quantified amount of elemental mercury associated with clinical effects was 1.1 g from a broken thermometer. ...
Unlabelled:
The objective of this guideline is to assist poison center personnel in the out-of-hospital triage and initial management of patients with suspected exposures to elemental mercury. An evidence-based expert consensus process was used to create this guideline. It is based on an assessment of current scientific and clinical information. The panel recognizes that specific patient care decisions may be at variance with this guideline and are the prerogative of the patient and health professionals providing care. The grade of recommendation is in parentheses.
Recommendations:
1) Patients with exposure due to suspected self-harm, abuse, misuse, or potentially malicious administration should be referred to an emergency department immediately regardless of the exposure reported (Grade D). 2) Patients with symptoms of acute elemental mercury poisoning (e.g., cough, dyspnea, chest pain) should be referred immediately to an emergency department for evaluation regardless of the reported dose. Patients with symptoms of chronic toxicity (rash, tremor, weight loss, etc.) should be referred for healthcare evaluation, the timing and location of which is guided by the severity of illness and circumstances of the exposure (Grade C). 3) If the elemental mercury was recently heated (e.g., from stove top, oven, furnace) in an enclosed area, all people within the exposure area should be evaluated at a healthcare facility due to the high risk of toxicity (Grade C). 4) If the elemental mercury was vacuumed or swept with a broom, the health department should be contacted to perform an environmental assessment for mercury contamination. Consider healthcare referral for those exposed to documented high air mercury concentrations (Grade C). 5) Patients ingesting more mercury than in a household fever thermometer or those with abdominal pain after ingestion should be referred to an emergency department for evaluation (Grade C). Do not induce emesis or administer activated charcoal. 6) Asymptomatic patients with brief, unintentional, low-dose vapor exposures can be observed at home. Asymptomatic patients can be evaluated as non-urgent outpatients if there is concern for exposures to high doses (e.g., more than contained in a thermometer) or for chronic duration (Grade D). 7) Pregnant patients unintentionally exposed to elemental mercury and who are asymptomatic should be evaluated by their obstetrician or primary care provider as an outpatient. Immediate referral to an ED is not required (Grade D). 8) Patients with elemental mercury deposited or injected into soft tissue should be referred for evaluation of surgical removal (Grade C). 9) All elemental mercury spills should be properly cleaned up, including the small amount of mercury from a broken thermometer. Brooms and vacuum cleaners should not be used to clean up elemental mercury. The clean-up of any spill larger than a broken thermometer should be performed by a professional company, state health department, or the EPA. Detailed instructions are provided on the EPA website: www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/mercury/faq/spills.htm (Grade D). 10) Patients with dermal exposures should remove all jewelry and wash the affected area with mild soap and water. Remove all contaminated clothing and place these items in a sealed plastic double-bag for proper disposal (Grade D). 11) Do not discard elemental mercury in household trash, plumbing drains, or sewer systems. Consult local authorities for the proper disposal of low-level elemental mercury-contaminated household items and thermometers (Grade D).
