**7. References**


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**4** 

*Slovenia* 

**Elemental Mercury** 

**Exposure and Sleep Disorder** 

Alfred Bogomir Kobal1 and Darja Kobal Grum2

*1Department of Occupational Medicine, Idrija Mercury Mine, Idrija,* 

*2Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana,* 

The sleep-wake rhythms cycle coincides with the solar 24-hour schedule. Most adult subjects in nontropical areas are comfortable with 6.5 to 8.0 hours of daily sleep, taken in a single period. It is known that normal sleep consists of four to six behaviourally and electrophysiologically (EEG) defined cycles. Sleep is divided in two main types: REM (rapid eye movements) sleep and non-REM sleep. In the general population, sleep disorders are common and usually associated with some illness, psychological and social disturbances. Insomnia as the most common sleep disorder is most often the consequence of psychological disturbances. It is characterized by the inability to fall asleep quickly. Sleepwalking, night terrors and nightmares are parasomnias which often reflect significant stress or physiopathology. Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movements are a type of motor disorders. Restless legs usually occur before sleep onset, while periodic limb movements can fragment the sleep. Transient sleep disturbances are mostly associated with variety of factors including stress, life changes, shift work, jet lag, and some acute health disorders. The most popular drugs, such as alcohol, nicotine and caffeine, can adversely affect the quality and quantity of sleep (Hornyak et al., 2006; Lee & Douglass, 2010; Pinel, 2009;

Occupational exposure to heavy metals, such as cadmium, lead, manganese and mercury, was very frequent in the 20th century. Many epidemiological studies show that these heavy metals can cause serious functional disability among exposed workers (World Health Organization [WHO], 1980). Inorganic lead, manganese and inorganic-elemental mercury (Hg) exposure can, among others, cause neurotoxic effects with a typical, but different,

Hg a silvery-white liquid metal is quite attractive and very widespread which, despite being highly toxic, was used by humans as a medicine for thousands of years. We shall discuss its neurotoxic effects and the sleep disorders it can cause at increased occupational exposure. Hg was first described by Aristotle in the 4th century A.D., and the alchemist's concept of Hg leaned on his system of natural phenomena, which dominated all of science until the 17th century. For this reason Hg was attributed with all those qualities of nature that accelerate development, growth and maturation. The famous Arabian physician Avicena, who was active in the 11th century, wrote that Hg vapours cause paralysis, tremor

**1. Introduction** 

Vgontzas et al., 2010).

clinical picture associated with sleep disorder.

