Occupational Mercury Exposure at a Thermometer Facility - Jiangsu Province, 2019.

Yanqiong Xu,Hengdong Zhang,Yiliang Xin,Enmin Ding,Jingxin Xie,Xing Sheng,Xiaowen Liu,Lei Han,Xin Liu,Xiaoling Zhang

doi:10.46234/ccdcw2020.172

Abstract

What is already known about this topic?Mercury is still used in the manufacture of some thermometers in China. This may pose health risks if exposure is not properly prevented and controlled.What is added by this report?An onsite investigation of a workplace at a thermometer facility in Jiangsu Province in 2019 found heavily elevated airborne and urinary mercury levels among a massive number of workers exposed to mercury. Traditional and obsolete technology as well as inadequate protection measures for occupational hazards caused this high level of exposure.What are the implications for public health practice?Employers at thermometer producing facilities need to adopt effective protection measures and implement strict management. Monitoring exposure, adopting better engineering controls, diligent cleaning, and providing recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) along with training to their workers properly can alleviate mercury exposure at their facilities. In addition, transitioning to mercury-free thermometers would eliminate the risk of mercury exposure.

Highlights

On December 3, 2019, Jiangsu Provincial CDC (JSCDC) and the local occupational health administration carried out a supervised investigation to assess the work environment, interview employees, and perform mercury monitoring at the workplace
A case of mercury exposure was defined as a urinary mercury level above the National Health Commission (NHC) biological exposure limit (BEL) of 35.0 μg/g Cr
Workers who received confirmation of mercury exposure were referred to an occupational disease diagnosis agency for further evaluation

Summary

Introduction

On November 25, 2019, the Jiangsu Health Commission contacted the Jiangsu Provincial CDC (JSCDC) seeking assistance for an investigation of mercury exposure among workers at a thermometer manufacturing facility. For 3 consecutive years, most workers who were tested had urine mercury levels far exceeding the biological exposure limit (BEL) of 35.0 μg/g creatinine (Cr) required by China’s National Health Commission (NHC). Thermometers were composed of a slender glass tube containing liquid mercury.

Results

Conclusion