[Endemic mercury burden caused by a bleaching ointment in Balken refugees].
In two camps in Ibbenbüren occupied by refugees from Balkan countries we found in 121 inhabitants, among them 56 children, high mercury concentrations in urine and blood. The median of the urinary concentrations was 12 micrograms/l (range: 0.15-770 micrograms/l) or 11.4 micrograms/g creatinin (range: 0.2-446 micrograms/g). 12 adults and 15 children had values above 50 micrograms/l. As source, a mercury-containing bleaching ointment, sold by foreign vendors, was identified. Mercury concentrations in several samples of this ointment ranged from 708 to 17,200 micrograms/g. Similar exposure to mercury may occur elsewhere. Hence, chronic mercury poisoning should by taken into differential diagnostic consideration.
Akademie für Kinderheilkunde und Jugendmedizin e.V., Dokumentations- und Informationsstelle für Umweltfragen, Osnabrück.
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Otto
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Ahlemeyer
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Tasche
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von Mühlendahl
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000415:Albania / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000209:etiology*; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D009824:Ointments; D012036:Refugees; D015022:Yugoslavia / Q000208:ethnology
D003358:Cosmetics; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D009824:Ointments; D008628:Mercury
Endemische Quecksilberbelastung durch eine Bleichsalbe bei Balkanflüchtigen.