DMPS (2,3-DIMERCAPTOPROPANE-1-SULFONATE, DIMAVAL) DECREASES THE BODY BURDEN OF MERCURY IN HUMANS EXPOSED TO MERCUROUS CHLORIDE

DMPS (2,3-dimercaptopropane-l-sulfonate, Na salt), when used as a chal lenge test for mercury in workers involved in the production of a calo mel skin-bleaching lotion and in direct contact with mercurous chlorid e, elevated urine levels of mercury. A DMPS treatment regimen was devi sed and initiated. Three days after the challenge test, DMPS was admin istered p.o. (400 mg per day) for 8 days, followed by a no-treatment p eriod of five days. A new cycle of DMPS treatment for 7 days was initi ated and followed by 5 days without treatment. A third period of treat ment was begun for 6 days, followed by a 5-day no-treatment period. Th e urinary mercury greatly increased during those periods when DMPS was administered (1754, 314, and 173 mu g/24 h for the periods 1, 2 and 3 , compared with 106, 48 and 53 mu g/24 h on the corresponding no-treat ment periods). One of the workers presented signs of drug intolerance and was discharged after receiving the first cycle of treatment. DMPS treatment was effective in lowering the body burden of mercury and in decreasing the urinary mercury concentration to normal levels.