[Neurologic symptoms in inhalation poisoning with metallic mercury].
Nineteen caisson workers had been exposed to metallic mercury vapours while digging tubes underneath the first district of Vienna (exposure between 470 and 2440 min; mean 1621 min). The blood mercury values on admission were between 29 and 166 micrograms/l (mean 75 +/- 34 micrograms/l). The main findings reported are clinical neurologic symptoms, psychic complaints, neurographic results and autonomic parameters (cardiovascular reflexes): 47% complained of headache and tiredness, 37% showed tremor and suffered from sleep disturbances, 26% showed hypersalivation, 16% changes in handwriting, and 11% slight dysarthria. The cardiovascular reflexes (autonomic parameters) were abnormal in 7 of 12 patients. On neurography the distal latency (median nerve) was pathologic in 47%, the distal latency (peroneal nerve) was pathologic in 26%, the antidromic sensory nerve conduction velocity (median nerve) was abnormal in 10%, the motor nerve conduction velocity, compound amplitude and vibratory threshold were normal.
Zeitlhofer
J
J
Neurologische Universitätsklinik, Wien.
Petzl
D H
DH
Cichini
G
G
Meisinger
V
V
Schuller
W
W
Wimberger
D
D
Mayr
N
N
Strasser
K
K
Jahn
O
O
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009420:Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational
Neurologische Symptome bei Inhalationsvergiftung mit metallischem Quecksilber.