A case of slight renal tubular dysfunction associated with cataract and anaemia was diagnosed in a 3-month-old black boy in whom high levels of mercury were found in blood and urine. Several arguments suggest that the renal, ocular and haematological defects may have resulted from exposure to mercury during foetal life and the 1-month lactation period due to the extensive use of inorganic mercury containing cosmetics by the mother.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Neubert D., Stahlmann R., Chahoud I. & Bochert G.Some aspects of prenatal toxicology. TIPS1985 (FEST suppl.): 21-26.
2.
Kavlock RJ & Gray LEJr. Morphometric, biochemical and physiological assessment of perinatally induced renal dysfunction. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health1983; 11: 679-90.
3.
Kavlock RJ & Gray LEJr. Postnatal evaluation of morphological and functional effects of prenatal exposure to nitrofen in the Long-Evans rat. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health1983; 11: 1-13.
4.
Barr RD, Woodger BM & Rees PHLevels of mercury in urine correlated with the use of skin lightening creams . American Journal of Clinical Pathology1973 ; 59: 36-40.
5.
Marzulli FN & Brown Dwc.Potential systemic hazards of topically applied mercurials. Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemistry1972; 23: 875-80.
6.
Berlin M.Mercury. In Handbook on the Toxicology of metals, eds L Friberg, GF Nordberg & VL Vouk, pp. 503-30. Amsterdam: Elsevier/North-Holland , 1979.
7.
Barr RD, Rees PH, Cordy PE, Kungu A., Woodger BA & Cameron HMThe nephrotic syndrome in adult Africans in Nairobi. British Medical Journal1972; ii: 131-4.
8.
Jeddeloh RJ, Lake KD & Brown DCAmmoniated mercury membranous nephropathy. Minnesota Medicine1985; 68: 591-2.
9.
Kibuhamusohe JW, Davies DR & Hutt Msr.Membranous nephropathy due to skin lightening cream. British Medical Journal1974; ii: 646-7.
10.
Lyons TJ, Christu CN & Larsen FSAmmoniated mercury ointment and the nephrotic syndrome. Minnesota Medicine1975; 383-4.
11.
Silverberg DS, McCall JT & Hunt JCNephrotic syndrome with use of ammoniated mercury. Archives ofInternal Medicine1967 ; 120: 581-86.
12.
Druet Ph , Druet E., Potdevin F. & Sapin C.Immune type glomerulonephritis induced by HgCl2 in the Brown Norway rat. Annals of Immunology1978; 1296: 777-92.
13.
Hinglais N. , Druet Ph , Grossetete J., Sapin C. & Barrety J.Ultrastructural study of nephritis induced in Brown Norway rats by mercuric chloride. Laboratory Investigation1979; 41: 150-9.
14.
Roman-Franco AA, Turiello M., Albioni B., Ossi E., Millgrom F. & Andres GAAnti-basement membrane antibodies and antigen-antibody complexes in rabbits injected with mercuric chloride. Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology1978; 9: 464-73.
15.
Kazantzis G. , Schiller Kfr, Asscler AW & Drew RGAlbuminuria and the nephrotic syndrome following exposure to mercury and its compounds. Quarterly Journal of Medicine1962; 31: 403-8.
16.
Roels H., Gennart JP, Lauwerys R., Buchet JP, Malchaire J. & Bernard A.Surveillance of workers exposed to mercury vapour: validation of a previously proposed biological threshold limit value for mercury concentration in urine . American Journal of Industrial Medicine1985; 7: 45-71.
17.
Stonard MD, Chater BV, Duffield DP, Nevitt AL, O'Sullivan JJ & Steel GTAn evaluation of renal function in workers occupationally exposed to mercury vapour. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health1983; 52: 177-89.
18.
Kuhnert PM, Kuhnert BR & Ehrard P.Comparison of mercury levels in maternal blood, fetal cord blood and placental tissues. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology1981; 139: 209-13.
19.
Gale TFThe embryotoxic response produced by inorganic mercury in different strains of hamsters. Environmental Research1981; 24: 152-61.
20.
Gale T. & Ferm V.Embryopathic effects of mercuric salts. Life Science1971; 10: 1341-7.
21.
Gale TF & Hanlon DPThe permeability of the syrian hamster placenta to mercury. Environmental Research1976; 12: 26-31.
22.
Holt D. & Webb M.The toxicity and teratogenicity of mercury in the pregnant rat. Archives of Toxicology1986; 58: 243-8.
23.
Hursh JB, Clarkson TW, Cherian MG, Vostal JJ & Vander Mallie R.Clearance of mercury (Hg-197, Hg-203) vapor inhaled by human subjects. Archives of Environmental Health1976; 31: 302-9.
24.
Atkinson WSA colored reflex from the anterior capsule of the lens in mercurialism. American Journal of Ophthalmology1943; 26: 685-8.
25.
Burn RAMercurialentis. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine1962; 55: 322-6.
26.
Kipling MDMercury and the eye. Annals of Occupational Hygiene1965; 8: 81-3.
27.
Gourlay JSMercurialentis. Transactions of the Ophthalmology Society UK. 1954; 74: 441-7.
28.
Lockett S. & Nazroo IAEye changes following exposure to metallic mercury. Lancet1952; i: 528-30.
29.
Rizzo AM & Furst A.Mercury teratogenesis in the rat. Proceedings of the Western Pharmacology Society1972; 15: 52-4.
30.
Barlow SM & Sullivan FMReproductive Hazards of Industrial Chemicals. London: Academic Press, 1982.
31.
Ryrie DR, Toghill PJ, Tanna MK & Galan GNMarrow suppression from mercury poisoning. British Medical Journal1970; i: 499.
32.
Wilson DRMercurial poisoning and a plastic anaemia. British Medical Journal1966; ii: 1534.
