Hygiene IIPP Class Lab Safety Pest Control Publications Radiation Recharges Risk Mngmt.
Dimethyl mercury is an extremely toxic compound that attacks the central nervous system.
The preliminary investigation indicates she was wearing the wrong type of gloves. This incident highlights the importance of proper glove selection. Gloves afford protection by minimizing skin contact with the contaminant, but gloves can provide a false sense of security. No one glove can provide protection against all chemicals so it is important to select the appropriate glove and to know its limitations. Wetterhahn died of dimethylmercury poisoning as the result of the accidental spillage of a few drops of the chemical on her latex glove- covered hand.