Mercury, lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, manganese, arsenic, antimony, zinc, copper, cobalt, vanadium and beryllium are used in industry and are known to cause adverse health effects both as the metal and as metallic compounds. As a rule, acute poisoning results from inhalation of dust, fume or vapour dispersed in the workplace air. Intake of some metals and their compounds is also possible through the skin. Mercury is absorbed into the body through the inhalation of fumes. Mercury compounds may also pass through the skin.
Mercury causes damage to the nervous system.
In the environment, mercury is converted to an organic compound, methylmercury, which accumulates, for example, in fish and passes through the food chain to humans. This compound is known to affect unborn babies. Mercury compounds are present in chlorine production and mining and are used, for example, in tanner's mordant, pickling baths and pesticides. Cadmium is a component of some solder metals and baths used for electroplating. It is used in Ni-Cd batteries.