Module 3: Toxicology - Section 10: Other Heavy Metals
TOX 10.2: Mercury

MERCURY:

Uses and high risk exposures:

Physical and chemical properties:

Metabolism:

a) Absorption:
b) Distribution:
c) Excretion:

Health effects:

a) Acute effects:
b) Subacute and chronic effects:

1. Classical syndrome: inflammation of the mouth; muscle tremors and psychic irritability.

2. Peripheral Nerves:

3. Skin:

a) Eczematous dermatitis:

b) Skin ulcers:

4. Kidney:

5. Enzymes:

Risk Management:

a) Limiting exposure:

b) Industrial hygiene monitoring:

The occupational exposure limit (OEL) according to the Regulations for Hazardous Chemical Substances (HCS):

ACGIH:

c) Biological monitoring:

d) Medical surveillance:

e) Treatment:

f) Compensation:

Any disease or pathological manifestation due to mercury is compensable under COIDA as it is listed as one of the substances in schedule 3 of the Act.

g) Notify the case to the Chief Inspector in DOL:



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Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health (DOH) - Modules 3: Occupational Medicine & Toxicology (Basic) by Profs Mohamed Jeebhay and Rodney Ehrlich, Health Sciences UCT is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 South Africa License. Major contributors: Mohamed Jeebhay, Rodney Ehrlich, Jonny Myers, Leslie London, Sophie Kisting, Rajen Naidoo, Saloshni Naidoo. Source available from here. For any updates to the material, or more permissions beyond the scope of this license, please email healthoer@uct.ac.za or visit www.healthedu.uct.ac.za. Last updated Jan 2007.
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