Native mercury, hydrargyrism and the birth of occupational toxicology in Colombia.

IF 3.2 3区环境科学与生态学 Q3 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL Environmental Geochemistry and Health Pub Date : 2025-01-05 DOI:10.1007/s10653-024-02301-y

Juan-Sebastián Bonilla, Alexander Rojas, Camilo A Rojas Velandia, Helwar Figueroa, Daniela Núñez-Alarcón, Katherine A León-Palma, Alvaro J Idrovo

引用次数: 0

Abstract

The "La Esperanza" native mercury mine in Aranzazu, (Caldas, Colombia) was active from 1948 until 1975. Before the final closure of the mine, the company began using dimercaprol (BAL, British Anti-Lewisite) and penicillamine for the treatment of hydrargyrism among workers. Mercury poisoning among miners was frequent due to precarious working conditions, inadequate technology, difficult terrain, and the high toxicity of native mercury within the mine. The costs associated with the treatment was one of the causes of the closure of the mine. The early use of these chelators corresponds to the first systematic use of an antidote in occupational health in Colombia. This paper describes the context in which dimercaprol and penicillamine were used, a milestone in the history of toxicology, medical geology and occupational health in Colombia and Latin America.

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哥伦比亚的原生汞、水合作用和职业毒理学的诞生。

位于Aranzazu（哥伦比亚Caldas）的“La Esperanza”天然汞矿于1948年至1975年活跃。在矿山最终关闭之前，该公司开始使用二巯基丙醇（BAL，英国抗刘易斯剂）和青霉胺治疗工人体内的水合中毒。由于不稳定的工作条件、不完善的技术、困难的地形以及矿井内天然汞的高毒性，矿工汞中毒经常发生。与处理有关的费用是该矿关闭的原因之一。这些螯合剂的早期使用相当于哥伦比亚职业卫生领域首次系统使用解毒剂。本文介绍了二巯基丙醇和青霉胺被使用的背景，这是哥伦比亚和拉丁美洲毒理学、医学地质学和职业健康史上的一个里程碑。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Environmental Geochemistry and Health 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

8.00

自引率

4.80%

发文量

279

审稿时长

4.2 months

期刊介绍： Environmental Geochemistry and Health publishes original research papers and review papers across the broad field of environmental geochemistry. Environmental geochemistry and health establishes and explains links between the natural or disturbed chemical composition of the earth’s surface and the health of plants, animals and people. Beneficial elements regulate or promote enzymatic and hormonal activity whereas other elements may be toxic. Bedrock geochemistry controls the composition of soil and hence that of water and vegetation. Environmental issues, such as pollution, arising from the extraction and use of mineral resources, are discussed. The effects of contaminants introduced into the earth’s geochemical systems are examined. Geochemical surveys of soil, water and plants show how major and trace elements are distributed geographically. Associated epidemiological studies reveal the possibility of causal links between the natural or disturbed geochemical environment and disease. Experimental research illuminates the nature or consequences of natural or disturbed geochemical processes. The journal particularly welcomes novel research linking environmental geochemistry and health issues on such topics as: heavy metals (including mercury), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and mixed chemicals emitted through human activities, such as uncontrolled recycling of electronic-waste; waste recycling; surface-atmospheric interaction processes (natural and anthropogenic emissions, vertical transport, deposition, and physical-chemical interaction) of gases and aerosols; phytoremediation/restoration of contaminated sites; food contamination and safety; environmental effects of medicines; effects and toxicity of mixed pollutants; speciation of heavy metals/metalloids; effects of mining; disturbed geochemistry from human behavior, natural or man-made hazards; particle and nanoparticle toxicology; risk and the vulnerability of populations, etc.