MERCURY OCCURRENCE IN HUMAN RESPIRATORY TRACTS IN AREAS OF COAL-FIREDINDUSTRIES IN INDIA

Mercury in samples of bronchial wash-outs of chronic patients related to the coal-fired industries such as steel plant (Bhilai), thermal pow er plant (Korba) and cement plant (Jamul) was determined. The mercury determinations in similar samples collected from non-coal fired indust ries such as iron-ore screening plant (Bailadila) and limestone mines (Nandini) was also made. Samples of subjects related to the uncontamin ated areas situated more than 100 Km away from industrial locations we re also analysed for mercury. Mercury was found at undetectable levels in the wash-out samples related to the uncontaminated areas. The merc ury presence, under the plant workers category, was found to be 20.0 - 85.2 mu g in the case of steel industry, 16.0 - 56.0 mu g in the case of thermal power industry, 10.0 - 17.5 mu g in the case of the cement plane industry. Mercury was also found to be present in samples relat ed to non workers category, but the levels of the occurrence was much smaller compared to that of the plant workers category. The mercury oc currence in bronchial tract in all cases war, found to be increasing w ith increase in the age of the respective subjects. The mercury level in the cases of the non-coal fired industries was found to be low, and in few cases only.