![]() Chemical pneumonitis with cough, dyspnoea, retrosternal pain, basal late inspiratory crackles and patchy shadowing on CXR may follow copious inhalation. Severe cases may have acute papillary necrosis or chemical colitis with shock, edema, tremor, and ataxia. Owing to their corrosive nature, ingestion of mercury and its compounds can cause pain, inflammation and necrosis of the oropharyngeal mucosa, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and renal damage with lesions of the proximal tubule and glomerulus. The average half-life in human is about 60 days for inorganic mercury and around 70 days for organic mercury compounds.Īcute poisoning commonly results from inhalation of elemental mercury vapor, or from deliberate or accidental ingestion of mercury or its salts. ![]() ![]() Mercury compounds are eliminated gradually in the urine, faeces, saliva and sweat. Both organic and elemental mercury compounds readily cross the blood-brain barrier and the placenta and are excreted in breast milk. The mercury absorbed into the body is distributed to many tissues, primarily the CNS and the kidney. Inorganic mercury is distributed almost equally between the red blood cells and the plasma, but alkyl compounds are concentrated in the red cells. Mercury inhibits the action of enzymes containing -SH groups. Mercury compounds may also be absorbed through the skin. Soluble mercurial salts and aryl mercury compounds are also absorbed after inhalation and to a limited extent after ingestion. Ingested elemental mercury is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Mercury is used as electrode in industrial production of chlorine, manufacture of fungicides, anti-fouling paints, laboratory apparatus, thermometers, detonators, dental amalgams and batteries.Įlementary mercury is absorbed after the inhalation of mercury vapour. Mercury can combine with organic substances to form organic compounds such as methyl mercury. Mercury can evaporate to form colorless, odorless mercury vapors. It can be combined with other chemicals to form inorganic compounds. In its elemental form, mercury is a shiny, silver-white, liquid metal. Mercury is found naturally in the environment in several forms. See also minamata disease.Information Sheet on Mercury Poisoning for Doctors Because of this, some fishing areas are posted with signs recommending limiting consumption of fish caught there. A common cause of chronic mercury poisoning is the ingestion of contaminated fish. The chronic form, due to absorption by the skin and mucous membranes, inhalation of vapors, or ingestion of mercury salts, is marked by stomatitis, metallic taste in the mouth, a blue line along the border of the gum, sore hypertrophied gums that bleed easily, loosening of the teeth, excessive salivation, tremors and incoordination, and psychiatric symptoms including abnormal excitability, anxiety, and social withdrawal. The acute form, due to ingestion, is marked by severe abdominal pain, metallic taste in the mouth, vomiting, oliguria or anuria at onset, followed by bloody diarrhea, and corrosion and ulceration of the entire digestive tract. Mercury poisoning acute or chronic disease caused by exposure to mercury or its salts an important aspect is its toxic effect on the brain, causing impaired judgment, memory loss, sleeplessness, and nervousness.
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