赴非洲从事汞齐法炼金作业工人职业汞暴露特征分析

Analysis on occupational characteristic of Chinese workers engaged in mercury based alchemy operation in Africa

关键词: 汞中毒  跨境务工  职业暴露  健康监护

Keywords: mercury poisoning  cross border workers  occupational exposure  health surveillance

摘 要: 目的 调查中国工人在非洲地区采用传统汞齐法炼金中的职业汞暴露特征及健康损害状况,为制定有效的职业卫生干预策略提供依据。方法 采用横断面调查方法,选取 2022 年 6 月至 2025 年 6 月尿汞超标的 104 名作业工人,系统收集其职业暴露情况、临床表现、神经电生理及血/尿汞检测结果。结果 炼金工人普遍处于高浓度汞暴露作业环境,89.42%(93/104)的工人从事开放式高温冶炼(>400 ℃ )作业,42.31%(44/104)的工人日均用汞量>10 kg, 21.15%(22/104)作业频率>15 d/月。工作场所防护措施严重缺失, 仅 20.79%(22/104)工人佩戴专业防毒装备。78.85%(82/104)工人居住于生产区 1 km 范围内,存在明显职业-居住复合暴露。工人慢性汞中毒检出率 80.77%(84/104),主要表现为头晕/乏力(95.24%,80/84)、震颤(59.52%,50/84)等神经系统症状。驱汞治疗后多数工人尿汞水平显著下降,但部分患者仍存在汞蓄积,需长期随访。结论 非洲地区汞齐法炼金的工人因防护不足、认知缺乏及作业-居住区重叠等因素,面临严重的多器官健康危害风险。建议通过改进工艺、加强防护、健康培训及动态监测等综合措施降低汞暴露危害。

Abstract: Objective To investigate the occupational mercury exposure characteristics and health damage status of Chinese workers in traditional amalgam alchemy in Africa, and to provide a basis for formulating effective occupational health intervention strategies. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted, a total of 104 workers with excessive urinary mercury from June 2022 to June 2025 were selected. Their occupational exposure, clinical manifestations, neuroelectrophysiological and blood/urine mercury detection results were systematically collected. Results The results showed that workers were generally exposed to high concentrations of mercury in the working environment, and 89.42% (93/104) of the workers were engaged in open high temperature smelting (>400 ℃), 42.31% (44/104)of the workers consumed more than 10 kg of mercury per day, and 21.15% (22/104)of the workers worked more than 15 days per month. Workplace protective measures were severely lacking, with only 20.79% (22/104)wearing professional antigas equipment, and 78.85% (82/104) of the workers lived within 1 km of the production area, their were obvious occupation-residential combined exposure. The detection rate of chronic mercury poisoning among workers was 80.77% (84/104), mainly manifested as neurological symptoms such as dizziness/fatigue (95.24%, 80/84) and tremor (59.52%, 50/84). After mercury removal treatment, the urinary mercury level of most workers decreased significantly, but some patients still have mercury accumulation, and long-term follow-up is needed. Conclusion Workers in amalgam alchemy in Africa face serious multi-organ health risks due to factors such as insufficient protection, lack of awareness, and overlapping of living and working areas. It is suggested that comprehensive measures such as process improvement, strengthening protection, health training and dynamic monitoring should be taken to reduce the hazards of mercury exposure.