Hudson PJ, Vogt RL, Brondum J, Witherell L, Myers G & Paschal DC. Elemental Mercury Exposure Among Children of Thermometer Plant Workers. Pediatrics 79:935-938 (1987)

Abstract: "Because evidence of mercury exposure was found among workers of a mercury thermometer-manufacturing plant in March 1984, the Vermont Department of Health studied the workers' children for both exposure to mercury and evidence of mercury toxicity. The median urine mercury level of 23 workers' children was 25 ug/L. This was significantly higher than the level (5 ug/L) among 39 children randomly selected from nonworkers' households in the same community (=<.001). Mercury-in-air levels measured in workers' homes were higher than those measured in control homes. A significant correlation was found between the urine mercury levels of their working parents. No child had frank mercury toxicity. No evidence of neurologic toxicity among exposed children was discovered by a pedriatric neurologist who examined these and unexposed children without knowledge of their exposure status. This is the first report demonstrating mercury exposure in children of mercury workers. Although toxic effects of mercury were not demonstrated at these levels of exposure, children of mercury workers are at risk for mercury exposure and potential mercury toxicity."

Hursh JB, Greenwood MR, Clarksson TW, Allen J & Demuth S. The effect of ethanol on the fate of mercury vapor inhaled by man. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 214:520-527 (1980).

Abstract: "Three human subjects ingested 1065 ml of beer equivalent to 65 ml of ethanol 30 min before exposure (12-20 min) to mercury vapor. An additional two subjects were exposed to mercury vapor without ethanol pretreatment. The results show that alcohol brings about: 1) reduced mercury retention, 2) an increase in the rapid phase of vapor loss by expiration, 3) an increased mercury storage in the liver, 4) a marked reduction in mercury uptake by the red blood cells and 5) the abolition of vapor exposure experiments were performed by using control and ethanol-pretreated mice and rats. Sacrifice occurred at 1 hr and 3 days. The results support and extend the human data."

Kampe T, Edman G & Molin C. Personality traits of adolescents with intact and repaired dentitions. Acta Odont Scand 44:95-102 (1986)

Abstract: "The personality pattern of 29 subjects aged 15 years with intact dentitions was studied by means of a personality inventory (KSP) and compared with that of 41 subjects of the same age with repaired dentitions. The subjects with repaired dentitions showed significantly higher scores in the somatic anxiety and the muscular tension scales; that is, dental restorations were commoner in subjects with autonomic and motor disturbances related to anxiety-proneness. Furthermore, subjects in the control group with high clinical dysfunction index (CDI) had higher scores in the muscular tension, the inhibition of aggression, and the irritability scales. The finding of higher scores in the muscular tension scale was validated in the clinical examination. Possible explanations of the differences in the personality patterns between individuals with intact and repaired dentitions are discussed. Clenching and gnashing of the teeth was also studied in relation to the personality variables. Teeth clenchers in both groups were more anxiety-prone, less self-assertive, and less socialized."

Khayat A & Dencker L. Organ and Cellular Distribution of Inhaled Metallic Mercury in the Rat And Marmorset Monkey: Influence of Ethyl Alcohol Pretreatment. Acta pharmacol et toxicol 55:145-152 (1984).

Abstract: "Distribution of inhaled radioactive metallic mercury vapour (203Hg0) in rats and Marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus), with or witout pretreatment by ethyl alcohol or aminotriazole (rat) was studied by means of whole-body autoradiography, microautoradiography, and scintillation counting of excised organs. Metallic mercury is oxidized by the catalase-H2O2 complex (Complex I) to the ionic form (Hg2+) and is known to be accumulated and retained in organs such as lungs, liver, myocardium, and brain, apparently after local oxidation in these organs. To this list of organs can be added the whole respiratory tract (nasal mucosa, thrachea, and bronchi), a number of endocrine organs such as adrenal cortex, thyroid, corpora lutea of the ovaries, and the interstitial tissues of the testes, the uvea and retina of the eye, and the salivary glands. In the liver, a regionalized pattern of distribution corresponding to the periportal hepatocytes was observed. Similary, the subcapsular parts of the adrenal cortex (mainly the zona glomerulosa) were responible for most of the adrenal mercury oxidation and retention. These organs (liver, adrenal) thus have a reserve capacity to oxidice Hg0. This is apparent also by the fact that ethyl alcohol and aminotriazole (known catalase inhibitors) -which depress oxidation and retention in most organs and whole body and thus increase blood concentrations of Hg0- cause an increased retention in most liver and adrenal cells."

Kishi R, Doi R, Fukuchi Y, Satoh H, Satoh T, Ono A, Moriwaka F, Tashiro K & Takahata N. Subjective symptoms and neurobehavioral performances of ex-mercury miners at an average of 18 years after the cessation of chronic exposure to mercury vapor. Mercury Workers Study Group. Environ Res 62(2):289-302 (1993)

Abstract: "In order to determine if there are any residual effects of long-term exposure to mercury vapor, neurobehavioral tests were given to ex-mercury miners about 18 years after the cessation of mercury exposure. Seventy-six male ex-mercury miners who had been exposed to relatively high concentrations of mercury vapor (over 1.0 mg/m3) and with a past history of mercury intoxication were compared to age (+/-3 years)-, sex-, and years of education-matched controls. Although the extent of the workers' symptoms caused by mercury poisoning, termed erethismus merculialis, markedly decreased after the cessation of exposure, the prevalence of neurological symptoms (such as hand tremors, headaches, and slurred speech) and symptoms of senility (such as low-back pain, loss of sexual desire) in the ex-miners was significantly higher than those in the controls. Matched-pair analysis showed that performances of motor coordination, Simple reaction time, and Short-term memory in the ex-miners were significantly deteriorated compared to those of controls. There are slight but persistent effects on neurobehavioral function, especially on motor coordination function, among mercury miners more than 10 years after the cessation of exposure."

Also make sure to read these books: Poison in Your Teeth: Mercury Amalgam (Silver) Fillings...Hazardous to Your Health! and Mercury Detoxification by Tom McGuire