title: [The evaluation of urine and hair total mercury content in occupationally exposed and non-exposed people].
abstract: The study aimed at the evaluation of total mercury content in hair and urine of the workers occupationally exposed to various levels of mercury vapours. The hair and urine were taken from the workers employed in Chemical Plant Oświecim and from thermometer factory in Warsaw. The urine and hair of non-exposed Warsaw inhabitants served as a reference. Mercury levels in hair and urine were determined with atomic absorption spectrometry. The highest mercury concentration in hair (range 1.13-325.16 micrograms/g) and urine (range 15.7-800 ng/mg of creatinine) of workers employed in processing chloroalkali in Chemical Plant Oświecim. The results also suggest that the average mercury concentration in hair (0.17 and 1.0 microgram/g) and urine (0.4 and 2.36 ng/mg of creatinine) of non-occupationally exposed inhabitants from Warsaw and Oświecim does not endanger human population. Nevertheless a positive correlation between distance from chloroalkali plant in Oświecim and mercury content in the specimens from inhabitants has been observed.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Toksykologii Srodowiskowej, Państwowy Zakład Higieny, Warszawa.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ludwicki
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiadrowska
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Palut
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tyrkiel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002617:Chemical Industry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008628:Mercury / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011044:Poland; D018881:Suburban Health; D013383:Suburban Population; D014505:Urban Population; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury