Details - Public Health Image Library(PHIL)

ID#:

6813

Caption:

This historic image depicted workers, who were carroting, or treating fur with mercury nitrate, Hg(NO₃)₂, in a felt hat-making factory where public health officials conducted numerous studies focusing on the effects of mercury upon workers, who are exposed to this heavy elemental metal. See the complete series of these images, PHIL 6810 – 6813. In the 1930’s, the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS), and the Connecticut Department of Health found that 10% of these factory workers suffered from chronic, and debilitating mercurialism, due to their exposure to mercury in each step of the hat-making process. The study results, and photographs were published by the PHS, and were instrumental in the 1941 tripartite agreement between labor, the hat-making industry, and the government that banned the use of mercury from all hat-making processes.

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Content Provider(s):

CDC/ NIOSH

Creation Date:

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Categories:

CDC Organization