Elemental Mercury Exposure Event, Carson City, Nevada Elemental Mercury Analysis of Whole Blood and Urine in Children and Adults by Inductively Coupled Plasma/ Mass Spectrometry

Wed 8:00 AM - Track 3: Inorganic Analytes

David R. Quilici Nevada State Public Health Lab

*David R. Quilici, *Colin A. Lettice, #Jerry Thomas, ^Dustin Boothe * Nevada State Public Health Laboratory # Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Environmental Health Division of Laboratory Sciences Emergency Response and Air Toxicants ^Carson City Health and Human Services

In August of 2009 the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory was contacted by Carson City Health and Human Services to conduct analyses of children and adult blood and urine that may have experienced chronic exposure to elemental mercury. The source of elemental mercury contamination was a historic mining flask, which are frequently found in the Carson City/Virginia City region. The mercury contaminated site was an apartment in Carson City, Nevada. Subjects' age range from 1 year/6 months to 79 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, Emergency Response and Air Toxicants was requested to provide analytical support for the mercury urine analysis. Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry was utilized by both participating laboratories. The results of the study ranged from <2 ug/L to 300 ug/L in urine and < 2 ug/L to 40 ug/L in blood. Whole blood Hg levels for subjects that are not occupationally exposed to mercury are: < 3ug/L - value inconspicuous, 3 - 10 ug/L - value increased, danger to health not recognizable, >10 ug/L - value distinctly increased, on a long-term basis, danger to health cannot be excluded, CDC/NCEH/DLS/ERAT.

Email: quilici@unr.edu

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