[Examination of health effects after exposure to metallic mercury vapors in workers engaged in production of chlorine and acetic aldehyde. I. Evaluation of general health status].

Physical, neurological and psychological examinations as well as laboratory tests were performed in the group of 147 workers, engaged in the production of chlorine, acetic aldehyde and soda lye, exposed to metallic mercury vapours and in the control group (n = 49). In the evaluation of laboratory tests, morphology of peripheral blood, liver function tests and lipid balance were analysed in the first part of the work. Electroencephalography, electrocardiography and chest X-ray were also performed as auxiliary examinations. There was a certain percentage of cases with symptoms of organic damage of the brain mostly in the form of cerebellar syndrome. Psychological organic tests proved to be of little value in the evaluation of effects of exposure to mercury. The results suggest that occupational exposure to metallic mercury vapours can enhance the risk of hypertension and myocardial failure. Harmful effect of occupational exposure to metallic mercury vapour on the respiratory and haemopoietic systems as well as on the liver and lipid balance was not observed.