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Ulcerative colitis reactivation after mercury vapor inhalation
Author(s) -
Cummings Curtis E.,
Rosenman Kenneth D.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.20306
Subject(s) - mercury (programming language) , medicine , ulcerative colitis , inhalation , occupational exposure , mercury poisoning , surgery , toxicity , anesthesia , environmental health , disease , computer science , programming language
Background After exposure to mercury vapor at three consecutive 10‐month intervals, an electrician in an electroplating plant had flare‐ups of ulcerative colitis within 24 hr, that subsided in several days, then returned upon re‐exposure 10 months later. Methods The patient and his workplace were both evaluated for mercury exposure. In addition to workplace inspection, both personal and area monitoring for environmental mercury was performed, using both multiple mercury diffusion badges and direct (instantaneous) readings, during maintenance of mercury‐filled electrical blocks. Results Eight‐hour time weighted average (TWA) mercury vapor exposure was measured at 0.41 mg/m 3 (ACGIH and NIOSH recommended TWA = 0.025 mg/m 3 ; OSHA permissible exposure limit −0.1 mg/m 3 ) for 5 years since stopping overexposure to mercury, the patient remained symptom free in clinical remission. Conclusions In a patient with chronic ulcerative colitis in remission, occupational exposure to mercury vapor led to episodes of disease reactivation. Am. J. Ind. Med. 49:499–502, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.