INTRABRONCHIAL ASPIRATION OF METALLIC MERCURY

Abstract
By accident a 60‐year‐old man aspirated about 20 g metallic mercury into the bronchial tract. Most of the metal disappeared within one year and there was no evidence of acute or chronic mercurialism. Repeated analyses demonstrated elevated levels of mercury in blood and urine. However, the combined results from these studies indicate that most of the mercury was eliminated with the sputum or possibly by the breath.