title: Acute mercury poisoning and mercurial pneumonitis from gold ore purification.
abstract: We describe four men who had symptoms of acute mercury poisoning following exposure to mercury vapor. They were attempting home gold ore purification using a gold-mercury amalgam and sulfuric acid. Three of the four patients required treatment with penicillamine. The clinical and laboratory data are presented along with pulmonary function test results. Long-term follow-up of one patient indicates residual morbidity, with continued reduction in pulmonary diffusing capacity. This suggests permanent impairment of pulmonary function despite prompt chelation therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Long Island Jewish Hillside Medical Center, Flushing, NY.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Polos
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D011859:Radiography; D014835:Volatilization