BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: After the 2008 phase-out of mercury-containing medical devices, the implementation status was evaluated by this study to know the program effectiveness in removing mercury exposure risks in health facilities.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was done to determine the amount of mercury stored in ten selected Department of Health (DOH)-retained hospitals. Key informant interviews were also performed with Pollution Control Officers to determine their program implementation status, strengths, and areas for improvement.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: All hospitals initiated the mercury minimization program but none has fully implemented it. The total amount recorded is 213.5 kg for mercury-containing materials. A discrepancy of 31.4% exists compared to the initial 2008 inventory of 312.7 kg. The main strength identified by the key informants was the one-time collection of mercury devices in hospitals. Hospitals need administrative and logistic support to properly implement mercury phase-out, particularly on monitoring of temporary storage. Disposal protocols should also be created to fully eliminate mercury exposure in hospitals.

No abstract available.
Mercury Poisoning*

No abstract available.
Korea* ; Mercury Poisoning*

By atomic absorbance spectrophotometry, the content of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercure) in freshwater fish and shelfish in the market and in 2 lakes in Hanoi from June to December 2002 was analysed. The contents are: lead 100%, arsenic 98.5%, cadmium 92.9% and mercury 88.6%, they are in the tolerable limits according to 1998 year Vietnam MOH regulation 867/BYT. The contents of various heavy metals are not similar in diverse genera of fish and shelfish. In some genera of fish, arsenic contents are higher than average from 0..68 to 0.601 mg/kg and mercury content 0.053mg/kg. Heavy metal contents in 2 lakes of Thanh Tri district and in diverse markets in Hanoi have not significant differences
Metals, Heavy ; Mercury ; Lead

Minamata disease is a well-known mercury contamination that happened in Japan in 1953. Due to demand during world war, second mercury disaster occurred in Niigata Prefecture in 1965. This is a review on the Niigata Minamata disease based on available documents and local expert opinions on the disaster. The aims of this paper are to record exposure history like the source of mercury in Agano River and specific fish that was associated with the disease. It is for an appraisal of the basic mercury exposure control, particularly to protect Japanese and world population during that time. There was indication that initial exposure limit for mercury was calculated incorrectly, and higher safe dose was applied. This epidemiological study is very useful and significant in comprehend the correct estimation of the human exposure to any hazardous substances.
Mercury Poisoning, Nervous System

Objective: To develop asolvent extraction-direct mercury analyzer method for determination of methylmercury in urine. Methods: After the urinehydrolyzesd by hydrobromic acid, methylmercury was extracted by tolueneand reverse-extracted from L-cysteine solution, it was then detectedbydirect mercuryanalyzer. Results: The linear range was 0.2-50.0 μg/L, and the related coefficient was 0.9999. The relative standard deviations (RSD) within the group were 5.04%-6.64%, and the RSD between the group were 5.65%-8.11 %. The average recovery efficiencies were 85.4%-95.5%. The detection limitation was 0.0482 μg/L and the quantification concentrations was 0.1607 μg/L. Conclusion: The method, which has low detection limit, high sensitivity, easy to operate, is stability for the determination of methylmercury in urine.
Mercury ; Methylmercury Compounds

Mercury is highly toxic and can be absorbed through skin contact. From December 5, 2020 to February 16, 2021, occupational disease laboratory of the First People's Hospital of Baiyin received 30 urine mercury test samples from a beauty salon in Lanzhou City. The test results showed that 28 samples exceeded the normal value (normal value: 4 μg/g Cr) . 15 patients were treated with sodium dimertopropyl sulfonate for mercury removal and tiopron for liver protection, and the prognosis was good.
Humans ; Mercury/adverse effects* ; Cosmetics/adverse effects* ; Mercury Poisoning ; Skin

This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of improvement in work environment and of segregation in a fluorescent lamp manufacturing factory. Among the total of 80 workers, 8 workers whose mercury concentration in urine reached a hazardous level (200-299 microgram/l) were moved to mercury free workplace. The follow-up examination for their mercury concentration in urine was done three times; on May 3, 1988, September 1, 1988 and April 3, 1989. The results were as follows: 1. Mercury concentration in the air was reduced from 0.140 to 0.107 mg/m3 in 4 months, and to 0.087 mg/m3 in one year after environmental improvement in workplace. However the level still exceeded the Threshold Limit Value. 2. The geometric mean of urinary mercury concentration among 80 workers was 173.0 microgram/l (5.1~458.6 microgram/l). The distribution of workers according to urinary mercury concentration showed that 9 workers (11.2%) were above the mercury poisoning level (300 microgram/l), 24 workers (30.0%) were 200-299 microgram/l, 35 workers (43.8%) were 50-199 microgram/l, and 12 workers (15.0%) were below 50 microgram/l. 3. Among the 24 workers whose urinary mercury concentration was 200-299 microgram/l, 8 were able to be followed up. Their mean urinary mercury concentration before segregation was 244.9 microgram/l, but decreased to 151.4 microgram/l in four months, 128.8 microgram/l in six months, and 46.8 microgram/l in one year after segregation.
Follow-Up Studies ; Mercury Poisoning

No abstract available.
Autistic Disorder ; Mercury Poisoning ; Thimerosal*

Mercurial sphygmomanometer is widely applied to NIBP as the basic medical equipment in hospitals, but it is dangerous. With the world-wide limit of mercurial sphygmomanometers, it is inevitable that the mercurial sphygmomanometers would be eliminated. At the same time, according to the requirement of the medical staff and for the technical side of medical engineering, we should set up a claim for the mercurial sphygmomanometers' substitute products.
Blood Pressure Determination ; instrumentation ; Mercury ; Sphygmomanometers