Mercury in the Swedish chloralkali industry--an evaluation of the exposure and preventive measures over 40 years.

The monitoring of exposure to mercury in the Swedish chloralkali industry started in 1946 and became common in the 1960s. During the 1970s both urinary and blood mercury (U-Hg, B-Hg) concentrations decreased substantially. The mean (geometric) U-Hg was 500-700 nmol l.-1 in the 1960s as compared with 150 nmol l.-1 today. During the 1970s the mean (geometric) B-Hg declined from about 100 to 40 nmol l.-1. Nowadays high values, U-Hg greater than 1500 nmol l.-1 or B-Hg greater than 600 nmol l.-1, are very rare whereas in the 1950s and the 1960s such peak values were found among 30% of the workers. The most effective measures taken were the reduction of the hydrogen discharges from the process and the replacement of graphite anodes by dimensionally stable anodes which require less frequent maintenance. Today efficient cleaning and continuous monitoring make it possible to keep the exposure levels low. The use of respiratory protection equipment is, however, still necessary during certain maintenance operations.