摘要：Biological Monitoring of Inorganic Mercury in Workers in a Fluorescent Lamp Plant. Masako IDEN, et al. Matsushita Electronics Corp., Okayama Factory —The level of mercury in urine is measured as an exposure monitoring of mercury, and the activity of urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) is used as an index of adverse effects of mercury on human kidneys. Here we examined the validity of these procedures by comparing the urinary total mercury (U-Hg) level and NAG activity in both 75 male workers exposed to inorganic mercury and age-matched unexposed male workers in a fluorescent lamp plant. To investigate factors affecting the levels of U-Hg, 12 items were selected in relation to oral intake and excretion of mercury: consumption of 1) soft drink, 2) coffee or tea. 3) milk and 4) alcohol; 5) habit of drinking tap water at the work place; frequency of 6) eating fish and 7) alcohol intake; 8) smoking; 9) use of dental amalgam, 10) eating of home grown rice; 11) exercise habit and 12) age. The U-Hg level and NAG activity were adjusted by creatinine levels. Personal exposure levels of inorganic mercury in air (A-Hg) and the U-Hg level correlated well ( p <0.001) in the exposed group but neither the exposed nor unexposed group showed a correlation between the U-Hg level and NAG activity. Although the mean level of U-Hg in the exposed group was higher than that in the unexposed ( p <0.001), no difference was observed in the mean level of NAG activity. A multiple regression analysis followed by a one-way ANOVA revealed that only the frequency of eating fish per week contributed to increase the level of U-Hg. The results suggest that oral intake of mercury from fish is a possible confounding factor in the exposure monitoring of inorganic mercury in the work place.
