AN IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDY OF CHLORALKALI WORKERS PREVIOUSLY EXPOSED TO MERCURY-VAPOR

Several animal studies have suggested that exposure to inorganic mercu ry compounds may have effects on the immune system. Human data are, ho wever, relatively sparse. The presence of several autoantibodies and t he concentration of immunoglobulins and complement components were det ermined in the present cross-sectional study in 77 chloralkali workers previously exposed to mercury vapour and 53 age-matched referents. Th e mean duration of exposure to mercury vapour was 7.9 years (range 1.1 -36.2), and the exposure had ceased on average 12.3 years (range 1.0-3 5.0) prior to the examination. No increased prevalence of the studied autoantibodies was observed among the exposed subjects as compared wit h the referents. There were no significant differences in the concentr ations of immunoglobulins or complement components between the two stu died groups. Nor was any relationship observed between cumulative merc ury dose estimates or time since cessation of exposure and the measure d concentrations of immunoglobulins or complement components.