engleski

Are hospital nurses exposed to the mercury from broken equipment?

Purpose: Mercury is a metal toxic to humans. Mercury occurs in three forms and biological effects, reactivity and toxicity depend among these forms. Also routes of exposure vary among these forms. In general inorganic and organic mercury enter the body through gastrointestinal tract, while elemental mercury which readily volatilizes to colourless and odourless vapour enters the body by inhalation. The nervous system is considered to be the main organ affected by elemental mercury vapour, with accumulation in the nervous cells. In spite of those known facts and adverse effects oh health, mercury continues to be used for various industrial processes and medical devices such as thermometers, sphygmomanometers, dental amalgams, laboratory chemicals etc. Goal: During year 2006, survey was conducted in one university hospital in Zagreb in Croatia to estimate is there possibility of occupational exposure among hospital nurses using mercury based medical equipment (thermometers and sphygmomanometers). This research is follow-up of the EU pilot project on occupational and environmental mercury exposure of women in fertile age. Methods: 28 nurses from all medical wards of one university hospital in Zagreb, Croatia were interviewed on mercury toxicity knowledge, handling and exposure to broken mercury based medical equipment and preference of equipment type i.e. mercury bases or electronically operated. Results: All interviewed hospital nurses are exposed to the mercury from broken equipment, and they are aware of its toxicity. Nevertheless most of them prefer mercury based equipment because of the more precise results and lack of technical support needed for education and maintenance of electronic equipment.

occupational exposure

nije evidentirano