Abstract
In a sodium hydroxide producing plant, 68 workers exposed to mercury and 10 non-exposed workers were studied. Neurasthenia is the principal complaint. Stomatitis, tremors, behavioral changes and increase in response of deep reflexes appear in those with mercurialism. Interruption of exposure resulted in improvement. Mercury levels in the urine cannot be relied upon as an indicator of either the presence of toxicity or degree of poisoning. Mercury in saliva can be of diagnostic value, however mercurialism has no effect on hemoglobin values. Exposure to mercury is thought to cause an increase in hypertensive cases although the increase is not statistically significant.