Bioloical Monitorin of Inoranic Mercur in Workers in a Fluorescent Lamp Plant

Masako IDEN; Shohei KIRA; Hiroshi MIYAUE; Masahiro FUKUDA; Kyohei YAMAGUCHI; Yukio FUJIKI

doi:10.1539/joh.40.68

Masako IDEN, Shohei KIRA, Hiroshi MIYAUE, Masahiro FUKUDA, Kyohei YAMAGUCHI, Yukio FUJIKI

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Keywords: Inorganic mercury, Occupational exposure, Biological monitoring, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, Fish consumption, Confounding factor

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1998 Volume 40 Issue 1 Pages 68-72

DOI https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.40.68

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Published: 1998 Received: April 30, 1997 Available on J-STAGE: April 07, 2006 Accepted: August 07, 1997 Advance online publication: - Revised: -
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Date of correction: April 07, 2006 Reason for correction: - Correction: ABSTRACT Details: Wrong : Biological Monitoring of Inorganic Mercury in Workers in a Fluorescent Lamp Plant. Masako IDEN, et al. Matsushita Electronics Corp., Okayama Factory-The level of mercury in urine is measured as an exposure monitoring of mercury, and the activity of urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) is used as an index of adverse effects of mercury on human kidneys. Here we examined the validity of these procedures by comparing the urinary total mercury (U-Hg) level and NAG activity in both 75 male workers exposed to inorganic mercury and age-matched unexposed male workers in a fluorescent lamp plant. To investigate factors affecting the levels of U-Hg, 12 items were selected in relation to oral intake and excretion of mercury: consumption of 1) soft drink, 2) coffee or tea. 3) milk and 4) alcohol; 5) habit of drinking tap water at the work place; frequency of 6) eating fish and 7) alcohol intake; 8) smoking; 9) use of dental amalgam, 10) eating of home grown rice; 11) exercise habit and 12) age. The U-Hg level and NAG activity were adjusted by creatinine levels. Personal exposure levels of inorganic mercury in air (A-Hg) and the U-Hg level correlated well (p<0.001) in the exposed group but neither the exposed nor unexposed group showed a correlation between the U-Hg level and NAG activity. Although the mean level of U-Hg in the exposed group was higher than that in the unexposed (p<0.001), no difference was observed in the mean level of NAG activity. A multiple regression analysis followed by a one-way ANOVA revealed that only the frequency of eating fish per week contributed to increase the level of U-Hg. The results suggest that oral intake of mercury from fish is a possible confounding factor in the exposure monitoring of inorganic mercury in the work place.
Right : Biological Monitoring of Inorganic Mercury in Workers in a Fluorescent Lamp Plant. Masako IDEN, et al. Matsushita Electronics Corp., Okayama Factory—The level of mercury in urine is measured as an exposure monitoring of mercury, and the activity of urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) is used as an index of adverse effects of mercury on human kidneys. Here we examined the validity of these procedures by comparing the urinary total mercury (U-Hg) level and NAG activity in both 75 male workers exposed to inorganic mercury and age-matched unexposed male workers in a fluorescent lamp plant. To investigate factors affecting the levels of U-Hg, 12 items were selected in relation to oral intake and excretion of mercury: consumption of 1) soft drink, 2) coffee or tea. 3) milk and 4) alcohol; 5) habit of drinking tap water at the work place; frequency of 6) eating fish and 7) alcohol intake; 8) smoking; 9) use of dental amalgam, 10) eating of home grown rice; 11) exercise habit and 12) age. The U-Hg level and NAG activity were adjusted by creatinine levels. Personal exposure levels of inorganic mercury in air (A-Hg) and the U-Hg level correlated well (p<0.001) in the exposed group but neither the exposed nor unexposed group showed a correlation between the U-Hg level and NAG activity. Although the mean level of U-Hg in the exposed group was higher than that in the unexposed (p<0.001), no difference was observed in the mean level of NAG activity. A multiple regression analysis followed by a one-way ANOVA revealed that only the frequency of eating fish per week contributed to increase the level of U-Hg. The results suggest that oral intake of mercury from fish is a possible confounding factor in the exposure monitoring of inorganic mercury in the work place.

Date of correction: April 07, 2006 Reason for correction: - Correction: CITATION Details: Wrong : 1) Osterloh JD, Tarcher AB. 27. Environmental and biological monitoring. In : Tarcher AB, ed. Principles and practice of environmental medicine. New York and London: Plenum Medical Book Company, 1992: 504-506.
2) Osterloh JD, Tarcher AB. 27. Environmental and biological monitoring. In: Tarcher AB, ed. Principles and practice of environmental medicine, New York and London: Plenum Medical Book Company, 1992: 496-497.
3) Stonard MD, Chater BV, Duffield DP, Nevitt AL, O''Sullivan JJ, Steel GT. An evaluation of renal function in workers occupationally exposed to mercury vapour. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 1983; 52: 177-189.
4) Rosenman KD, Valciukas JA, Glickman L, Meyers BR, Cinotti A. Sensitive indicators of inorganic mercury toxicity. Arch Environ Health 1986; 41: 208-215.
5) Barregård L, Hultberg B, Schutz A, Sailsten G. Enzymuria in workers exposed to inorganic mercury. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 1988; 61: 65-69.
6) Magos L. Selective atomic-absorption determination of inorganic mercury and methylmercury in undigested biological samples. Analyst 1971; 96: 847-853.
7) Noto A, Ogawa Y, Mori S, et al. Simple, rapid spectrophotometry of urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, with use of a new chromogenic substrate. Clin Chem 1983; 29: 1713-1716.
8) Jyoyama Y, Ueno H, Naito K, Yamaguchi K, Fujiki Y. Passive sampling of inorganic mercury vapor by charcoal tube. J Occup Health 1997; 39: 240-241.
9) Takagi H. Multiple regression analysis (Juukaiki bunseki). In: Yanai H, Takagi H, eds. Handbook for multivariate analysis (Tahenryou kaiseki handobukku). Kyoto: Gendai Sugaku Sha, 1986: 32-34 (in Japanese).
10) Takagi H, Saeki K, Nakai S. Introduction of data analysis using HALBAU (HALBAU ni yoru deeta kaiseki nyuumon). Kyoto: Gendai Sugaku Sha, 1989 (in Japanese).
11) Dance N, Price RG, Cattel WR, Lansdell J, Richards B. The excretion of N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase and β-galactosidase by patients with renal disease. Clin Chim Acta 1970; 27: 87-92.
12) Wellwood JM, Ellis BG, Price RG, Hammond K, Thompson AE, Jones NF. Urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase activities in patient with renal disease. Brit Med J 1975; 3: 408-411.
13) Japan Association for Occupational Health. Recommendation of occupational exposure limits (1996-1997). J Occup Health 1996; 38: 134-147.
14) Langworth S, Elinder CG, Göthe CJ, Vesterberg O. Biological monitoring of environmental and occupational exposure to mercury. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 1991; 63: 161-167.
15) Hongo T, Abe T, Ohtsuka R, et al. Urinary mercury monitoring of university staff and students occasionally exposed to mercury vapor. Industrial Health 1994; 32: 17-27.
16) Suzuki T, Hongo T, Abe T, Matsuo N, Inoue N. Urinary mercury level in Japanese children: influence of dental amalgam fillings and fish eating habits. Sci Total Environ 1993; 136: 213-227.
17) Svensson BG, Schütz A, Nilsson A, Akesson I, Akesson B, Skerfving S. Fish as a source of exposure to mercury and selenium. Sci Total Environ 1992; 126: 61-74.
18) Annual Report of Okayama Prefectural Reseach Center of Environment and Public Health 1981; 5: 285-298.

Right : 1) Osterloh JD, Tarcher AB. 27. Environmental and biological monitoring. In : Tarcher AB, ed. Principles and practice of environmental medicine. New York and London: Plenum Medical Book Company, 1992: 504-506.
2) Osterloh JD, Tarcher AB. 27. Environmental and biological monitoring. In: Tarcher AB, ed. Principles and practice of environmental medicine, New York and London: Plenum Medical Book Company, 1992: 496-497.
3) Stonard MD, Chater BV, Duffield DP, Nevitt AL, O'Sullivan JJ, Steel GT. An evaluation of renal function in workers occupationally exposed to mercury vapour. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 1983; 52: 177-189.
4) Rosenman KD, Valciukas JA, Glickman L, Meyers BR, Cinotti A. Sensitive indicators of inorganic mercury toxicity. Arch Environ Health 1986; 41: 208-215.
5) Barregård L, Hultberg B, Schutz A, Sailsten G. Enzymuria in workers exposed to inorganic mercury. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 1988; 61: 65-69.
6) Magos L. Selective atomic-absorption determination of inorganic mercury and methylmercury in undigested biological samples. Analyst 1971; 96: 847-853.
7) Noto A, Ogawa Y, Mori S, et al. Simple, rapid spectrophotometry of urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, with use of a new chromogenic substrate. Clin Chem 1983; 29: 1713-1716.
8) Jyoyama Y, Ueno H, Naito K, Yamaguchi K, Fujiki Y. Passive sampling of inorganic mercury vapor by charcoal tube. J Occup Health 1997; 39: 240-241.
9) Takagi H. Multiple regression analysis (Juukaiki bunseki). In: Yanai H, Takagi H, eds. Handbook for multivariate analysis (Tahenryou kaiseki handobukku). Kyoto: Gendai Sugaku Sha, 1986: 32-34 (in Japanese).
10) Takagi H, Saeki K, Nakai S. Introduction of data analysis using HALBAU (HALBAU ni yoru deeta kaiseki nyuumon). Kyoto: Gendai Sugaku Sha, 1989 (in Japanese).
11) Dance N, Price RG, Cattel WR, Lansdell J, Richards B. The excretion of N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase and β-galactosidase by patients with renal disease. Clin Chim Acta 1970; 27: 87-92.
12) Wellwood JM, Ellis BG, Price RG, Hammond K, Thompson AE, Jones NF. Urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase activities in patient with renal disease. Brit Med J 1975; 3: 408-411.
13) Japan Association for Occupational Health. Recommendation of occupational exposure limits (1996-1997). J Occup Health 1996; 38: 134-147.
14) Langworth S, Elinder CG, Göthe CJ, Vesterberg O. Biological monitoring of environmental and occupational exposure to mercury. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 1991; 63: 161-167.
15) Hongo T, Abe T, Ohtsuka R, et al. Urinary mercury monitoring of university staff and students occasionally exposed to mercury vapor. Industrial Health 1994; 32: 17-27.
16) Suzuki T, Hongo T, Abe T, Matsuo N, Inoue N. Urinary mercury level in Japanese children: influence of dental amalgam fillings and fish eating habits. Sci Total Environ 1993; 136: 213-227.
17) Svensson BG, Schütz A, Nilsson A, Akesson I, Akesson B, Skerfving S. Fish as a source of exposure to mercury and selenium. Sci Total Environ 1992; 126: 61-74.
18) Annual Report of Okayama Prefectural Reseach Center of Environment and Public Health 1981; 5: 285-298.

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Abstract

Biological Monitoring of Inorganic Mercury in Workers in a Fluorescent Lamp Plant. Masako IDEN, et al. Matsushita Electronics Corp., Okayama Factory—The level of mercury in urine is measured as an exposure monitoring of mercury, and the activity of urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) is used as an index of adverse effects of mercury on human kidneys. Here we examined the validity of these procedures by comparing the urinary total mercury (U-Hg) level and NAG activity in both 75 male workers exposed to inorganic mercury and age-matched unexposed male workers in a fluorescent lamp plant. To investigate factors affecting the levels of U-Hg, 12 items were selected in relation to oral intake and excretion of mercury: consumption of 1) soft drink, 2) coffee or tea. 3) milk and 4) alcohol; 5) habit of drinking tap water at the work place; frequency of 6) eating fish and 7) alcohol intake; 8) smoking; 9) use of dental amalgam, 10) eating of home grown rice; 11) exercise habit and 12) age. The U-Hg level and NAG activity were adjusted by creatinine levels. Personal exposure levels of inorganic mercury in air (A-Hg) and the U-Hg level correlated well (p<0.001) in the exposed group but neither the exposed nor unexposed group showed a correlation between the U-Hg level and NAG activity. Although the mean level of U-Hg in the exposed group was higher than that in the unexposed (p<0.001), no difference was observed in the mean level of NAG activity. A multiple regression analysis followed by a one-way ANOVA revealed that only the frequency of eating fish per week contributed to increase the level of U-Hg. The results suggest that oral intake of mercury from fish is a possible confounding factor in the exposure monitoring of inorganic mercury in the work place.

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