An assessment of exposure to mercury and mercuric chloride from handling treated herbarium plants.
A curator at a university herbarium reported headache, nausea and mucosal irritation after initiating a project to remount plant specimens treated with mercuric chloride. Workplace exposure assessment indicated potential for mercury compound ingestion through hand-to-mouth contact. Blood, hair and urine assays were negative.
Bauer
E P
EP
Health Protection Office and Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Fuortes
L J
LJ
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000506:poisoning; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D008517:Phytotherapy
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007306:Insecticides; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D008628:Mercury