MANAGING MERCURY.

Excessive or prolonged exposures to mercury vapor can produce either acute or chronic mercury poisoning. The industries where acute or chronic exposure can occur are extremely varied. They include the mining and refining of mercury, where workers are in direct contact with this metal, or industries where mercury is used in the manufacturing of such instruments as thermometers, barometers, manometers, clinical blood analyzers, and fluorescent and mercury vapor lamps. Mercury is also used in the production of batteries, dental amalgams, and caustic soda. Mercury compounds are used in paints, in fungicides and insecticides produced for export, and, in some minute quantities, as a purifier for such commonly administered serums as DPT. Within the last decade, mercury has also been found to be a primary source of contamination at some hazardous waste sites.