Clinical-epidemiological evaluation of children, adolescents and adults after inhalation exposure to elemental mercury in a collective accident in Santa Bárbara do Oeste, SP

Abstract

This is a clinical-epidemiological investigation project of children, adolescents, and adults who were exposed to elemental metallic mercury vapors by inhalation in a collective accident in which a still unknown, but significant, amount of metallic mercury was distributed among main children of a neighborhood for recreational purposes. This distribution and manipulation resulted in contamination of various domestic environments, and collective contamination of about 60 people including children as a 17-day-old newborn, and older ones. During a period of about 15 days after collective exposure, several children and adolescents sought health services with a typical picture of acute elemental mercury intoxication, with neurological, gastrointestinal, and dermatological disorders. These cases were diagnosed with the assistance and advice of the technical team from CIATox -Campinas and are currently undergoing chelation treatment with the drug dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) administered orally. The aim of this study is to epidemiologically assess exposed individuals using a prospective observational design, defining a cohort of exposed individuals to be followed up and evaluated periodically, clinically, and with laboratory exams. With the results, it is expected to determine the degree of contamination and the severity of the occurring clinical cases, factors for determining the severity, characteristics of clinical complications, degree of environmental contamination, and clinical response to the chelation treatment performed. (AU)