Domestic mercury pollution

Wendroff, Arnold P.

doi:10.1038/347623a0

Cited by 30 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…EPA, 2002;Wendroff, 1990;Zayas and Ozuah, 1996). In urban areas with a Caribbean population, mercury is widely available in stores called "botanicas".…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Mercury vapor in residential building common areas in communities where mercury is used for cultural purposes versus a reference community

Garetano¹,

Stern

Robson

et al. 2008

Science of The Total Environment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background-Exposure to elemental mercury (Hg 0 ) in residential buildings can occur from accidental spills, broken objects (thermometers, fluorescent fixtures, thermostats), and deliberate introduction, one mode of which involves cultural practices by individuals who believe dispersal of mercury in a residence will bring luck, enhance health or ward off harm.Objectives-To determine whether mercury vapor levels in common areas of residential buildings is higher in a community where cultural uses are likely (study areas S1, S2) than in a reference community (C1) where cultural use is unlikely, and whether levels can serve as a signal of significant cultural mercury use.Methods-We monitored Hg 0 vapor with a portable spectrophotometer in the three communities. We randomly selected sites in S1 and C1 community, and also include sites in S2 specified by local health officials who suspected cultural mercury use. We evaluated 122 multifamily buildings and 116 outdoor locations.Findings-We found >25 ng/m 3 Hg 0 in 14% of buildings in study areas compared to only one reference building. In the latter we identified an accidental mercury spill from a bottle that had HHS Public Access Author Manuscript Author ManuscriptAuthor ManuscriptAuthor Manuscript been brought into the building. Both the mean and maximum indoor mercury vapor levels were greater in the study communities than in the reference community. In all communities, we observed mean indoor Hg 0 vapor concentration greater than outdoors, although in two-thirds of buildings, indoor levels did not exceed the area-specific outdoor upper-limit concentration.Conclusion-After controlling for factors that might influence Hg 0 vapor levels, the most plausible explanation for greater Hg 0 levels in the study area is a relationship to cultural use of mercury. None of the measured levels exceeded the ATSDR minimum risk level for residences of 200 ng/m 3 Hg 0 although levels in living quarters might be greater than those in the common areas.

show abstract

“…EPA, 2002;Wendroff, 1990;Zayas and Ozuah, 1996). In urban areas with a Caribbean population, mercury is widely available in stores called "botanicas".…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…EPA, 2002;Wendroff, 1990;Zayas and Ozuah, 1996). Cultural use of mercury may present an insidious source of exposure in households.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury vapor in residential building common areas in communities where mercury is used for cultural purposes versus a reference community

Garetano¹,

Stern

Robson

et al. 2008

Science of The Total Environment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In a survey of New York City botanicas, 93% reported selling elemental mercury (about one to four capsules per day) (2). A survey of 115 botanicas in 13 cities in the United States and Puerto Rico found that 99 sold mercury (1). Johnson (12) surveyed 203 Caribbean and Latin American adults in the New York City area; 44% of Caribbean and 27% of Latin American respondents reported using mercury.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mercury is sold in most botanicas-stores specializing in herbal remedies and religious items used in these traditions (1,2). Its use in small, enclosed spaces and the long residence time of elemental mercury create the potential for very high direct exposures to individuals.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Assessing elemental mercury vapor exposure from cultural and religious practices.

Riley

Newby

Leal-Almeraz

et al. 2001

Environ Health Perspect

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Use of elemental mercury in certain cultural and religious practices can cause high exposures to mercury vapor. Uses include sprinkling mercury on the floor of a home or car, burning it in a candle, and mixing it with perfume. Some uses can produce indoor air mercury concentrations one or two orders of magnitude above occupational exposure limits. Exposures resulting from other uses, such as infrequent use of a small bead of mercury, could be well below currently recognized risk levels. Metallic mercury is available at almost all of the 15 botanicas visited in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, but botanica personnel often deny having mercury for sale when approached by outsiders to these religious and cultural traditions. Actions by public health authorities have driven the mercury trade underground in some locations. Interviews indicate that mercury users are aware that mercury is hazardous, but are not aware of the inhalation exposure risk. We argue against a crackdown by health authorities because it could drive the practices further underground, because high-risk practices may be rare, and because uninformed government intervention could have unfortunate political and civic side effects for some Caribbean and Latin American immigrant groups. We recommend an outreach and education program involving religious and community leaders, botanica personnel, and other mercury users.

show abstract

Ethnomedical (Folk) Remedies for Childhood Asthma in a Mainland Puerto Rican Community

Pachter¹

1995

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Domestic mercury pollution

Cited by 30 publications

References 3 publications

Mercury vapor in residential building common areas in communities where mercury is used for cultural purposes versus a reference community

Mercury vapor in residential building common areas in communities where mercury is used for cultural purposes versus a reference community

Assessing elemental mercury vapor exposure from cultural and religious practices.

Ethnomedical (Folk) Remedies for Childhood Asthma in a Mainland Puerto Rican Community

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About