1996 Volume 34 Issue 4 Pages 421-425
Study was conducted in a group of 32 persons engaged in liquid phase epitaxial growth of mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) layers for nearly 11 years. Airborne mercury concentrations in work environment have been exceeding the threshold limit value of 0.05mg/m3 recommended by ACGIH1). Hg concentration in workplace during peak working hours remained between 0.04-0.08mg/m3. Findings were compared with 32 unexposed referents. Mercury value was estimated 1.60±0.20 (mean±SD) in control, and in Phase I and II, 10.72±1.34ng Hg/ml and 8.08±1.15ng Hg/ml of blood respectively.
Results indicate a fall in blood mercury level during the second phase of study. But the values did not return to normal even after a gap of 3 months. An individual who met with a mercury accident showed 226ng Hg/ml of blood which decreased to 25ng/ml after 3 months.
It is inferred from the present study that Hg level has increased significantly in MCT workers during working period, and also in non-working period, the values were higher than controls.
