OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO INORGANIC MERCURY-VAPOR AND REPRODUCTIVE OUTCOMES

The effect of exposure to inorganic mercury on the pregnant woman and her foetus has received little attention. Transport of elemental inorg anic mercury into foetal tissues has been reported, and prior studies indicate a higher incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome. The effects oi occupational exposure to inorganic mercury on pregnancy were invest igated among 46 exposed women workers; controls were 19 women working in non-production areas of the same factory. There were 104 recorded t otal pregnancies during the period 1948-77. The study revealed a highe r frequency oi adverse reproductive outcomes, especially congenital an omalies, among the women exposed to inorganic mercury levels at or sub stantially lower than 0.6 mg/m(3); no significant differences in the s tillbirth or miscarriage rates were noted between the two groups of wo men. The overall foetal death rate in this study was similar to New Yo rk state (USA) and national levels for the same period.