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EDITORIALS: Morten Frisch Inverse association between appendicectomy and ulcerative colitis BMJ 2006; 332: 561-562 [Full text]

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Colitis and mercury vapour association

Phillip J. Colquitt   (22 May 2006)

Colitis and mercury vapour association 22 May 2006
Phillip J. Colquitt, Technician/RN Independent Comment Send response to journal: Re: Colitis and mercury vapour association	Recently, Cummings and Rosenman reported of a case of ulcerative colitis(UC) in remission, subsequently exacerbated by occupational mercury(Hg) vapour exposure, the first report of an association between UC and Hg vapour[1], which may well have wider implications. The mercury sphygmomanometer is a well known and pervasive hospital device in close contact with patients. It is also a major reservoir of mercury in our environment according to recent published medical opinion - and here I quote.... “.......the mass of mercury used in mercury sphygmomanometers (80–100 g/unit) make them one of the largest mercury reservoirs in the environment...”[2] Zones of mercury vapour(as distinct from general room air levels), coming from sphygmomanometer mercury spills can occur, in concentrations exceeding legal industrial limits(eg. 50 mcgs/cubic metre is the limit in Australia). I reported this in 1995[3], and have also called for proper hazard warning labels for this device[4]. The nursing collective only recently acknowledged the Hg occupational hazard in health care[5], yet it seems indifferent to the consumer need for proper labelling of sphygmomanometer labelling[6]. Doctors on the other hand, have a long established affectionate relationship with the Hg sphygmomanometer, and in the 1970’s, calls for one such device in every home were seen[7]. Ironically, we now see reports of children being poisoned by the device, in the home[8]. It is vital that children and hospital patients be protected by appropriate labelling of this device. Phil Colquitt [1]Cummings CE, Rosenman KD. Ulcerative colitis reactivation after mercury vapor inhalation. Am J Ind Med. 2006 Jun;49(6):499-502. [2]Woroniecki RP, Flynn JT. How are hypertensive children evaluated and managed? A survey of North American pediatric nephrologists. Pediatr Nephrol. 2005 Jun;20(6):791-7. Epub 2005 Apr 5. [3]Colquitt PJ. The effect of occupational exposure to mercury vapour on the fertility of female dental assistants. Occup Environ Med. 1995 Mar;52(3):214. [4]Colquitt PJ. Electronic sphygmomanometers: are they a source of mercury in hospitals? Hypertension. 2002 Mar 1;39(3):e21. [5]Clouse R. Mercury use in health care: an occupational and public health hazard. Am J Nurs. 2005 Sep;105(9):104. [6]Condon M, Brannen L. Mercury elimination update. Am J Nurs. 2006 Mar;106(3):88. [7]Burch G. E. A sphygmomanometer in every home • SHORT COMMUNICATION American Heart Journal, Volume 84, Issue 5, November 1972, Page 710. [8]Kish E, Myers A. Challenging equation: 1 toddler + 1 teen x (irritable and hypertensive) = 2(D), where "D" is a diagnostic dilemma! Contemporary Pediatrics Dec 2005 v22 i12 p17(8) (4756 words). Competing interests: None declared