@article{ref1,
title="Inhalational mercury toxicity from artisanal gold extraction reported to the Oregon poison center, 2002-2015",
journal="Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)",
year="2016",
author="Noble, Matthew J. and Decker, Stewart L. and Zane Horowitz, B.",
volume="54",
number="9",
pages="847-851",
abstract="CONTEXT: Mercury exposure has been described among small-scale gold mining communities in developing countries, but reports of inhalational mercury toxicity among home gold extractors in the US remain uncommon. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: We sought to identify inhalational mercury exposures and toxicity among artisanal gold extractors. <br><br>METHODS: This is an observational case series of a single Poison Center database from 2002-2015. We review all cases of &quot;mercury&quot; or &quot;mercury inhalation&quot; exposures, with detailed description of a recent representative case. <br><br>RESULTS: Nine cases were reported, with patients' ages ranging 32-81 years. Eight (89%) patients were male. Seven of eight (88%) patients with acute exposures reported pulmonary symptoms consistent with mercury vapor inhalation such as dyspnea and cough; two (29%) patients had severe toxicity requiring intubation. Four of six (67%) patients had markedly elevated whole blood mercury concentrations up to 346 mcg/L; each received a different chelation regimen. Four (44%) patients used methamphetamines at the time of their exposure. The case report describes a patient with elevated mercury concentrations who required intubation for hypoxic respiratory failure. He received chelation therapy based on chelator availability, with decreasing 24-hour urine mercury concentrations. The house where he was exposed remains uninhabitable from elevated ambient mercury vapor concentrations. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Artisanal gold extraction may be associated with inhalational mercury toxicity, including elevated blood mercury concentrations and acute hypoxic lung injury requiring intubation.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1556-3650",
doi="10.1080/15563650.2016.1199029",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2016.1199029"
}