Exposure to mercury a concern for Nome gold miners

Gold miners in Nome may have exposed themselves to dangerous amounts of mercury, according to the state Department of Health and Social Services.

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2012/08/21/2596167/exposure-to-mercury-a-concern.html#storylink=cpy

The state health workers say they have heard stories recently of miners heating gold-mercury mixtures they've found to remove the mercury, which lets off fumes. Mercury poisoning by inhalation has been known to cause high blood pressure, increased heart rate and skin problems.

Now health department officials want to know how widespread the potential mercury exposure has been in Nome. A team will be in the Northwest Alaska city from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1 to check the miners, DHSS says. The team will be conducting urine samples to look for traces of the toxic element.

http://www.adn.com/2012/08/21/2596167/exposure-to-mercury-a-concern.html

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