Back تسمم بالزئبق Arabic Intoxicació per mercuri Catalan Kviksølvforgiftning Danish Quecksilbervergiftung German Δηλητηρίαση από υδράργυρο Greek Hidrarga veneniĝo Esperanto Envenenamiento por mercurio Spanish مسمومیت جیوه Persian Elohopeamyrkytys Finnish Intoxication au mercure French
| Mercury poisoning | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Mercury toxicity, mercury overdose, mercury intoxication, hydrargyria, mercurialism |
 | |
| The bulb of a mercury-in-glass thermometer | |
| Specialty | Toxicology |
| Symptoms | Muscle weakness, poor coordination, numbness in the hands and feet[1] |
| Complications | Kidney problems, decreased intelligence[2] |
| Causes | Exposure to mercury[1] |
| Risk factors | Consumption of fish, which may contain mercury[3] |
| Diagnostic method | Difficult[3] |
| Prevention | Decreasing use of mercury, low mercury diet[4] |
| Medication | Acute poisoning: dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), dimercaptopropane sulfonate (DMPS)[5] |
Mercury poisoning is a type of metal poisoning due to exposure to mercury.[3] Symptoms depend upon the type, dose, method, and duration of exposure.[3][4] They may include muscle weakness, poor coordination, numbness in the hands and feet, skin rashes, anxiety, memory problems, trouble speaking, trouble hearing, or trouble seeing.[1] High-level exposure to methylmercury is known as Minamata disease.[2] Methylmercury exposure in children may result in acrodynia (pink disease) in which the skin becomes pink and peels.[2] Long-term complications may include kidney problems and decreased intelligence.[2] The effects of long-term low-dose exposure to methylmercury are unclear.[6]
Forms of mercury exposure include metal, vapor, salt, and organic compound.[3] Most exposure is from eating fish, amalgam-based dental fillings, or exposure at a workplace.[3] In fish, those higher up in the food chain generally have higher levels of mercury, a process known as biomagnification.[3] Less commonly, poisoning may occur as a method of attempted suicide.[3] Human activities that release mercury into the environment include the burning of coal and mining of gold.[4][7] Tests of the blood, urine, and hair for mercury are available but do not relate well to the amount in the body.[3]
Prevention includes eating a diet low in mercury, removing mercury from medical and other devices, proper disposal of mercury, and not mining further mercury.[4][2] In those with acute poisoning from inorganic mercury salts, chelation with either dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) or dimercaptopropane sulfonate (DMPS) appears to improve outcomes if given within a few hours of exposure.[5] Chelation for those with long-term exposure is of unclear benefit.[5] In certain communities that survive on fishing, rates of mercury poisoning among children have been as high as 1.7 per 100.[4]
- ^ a b c "Mercury". NIEHS. Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Bose-O'Reilly S, McCarty KM, Steckling N, Lettmeier B (September 2010). "Mercury exposure and children's health". Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care. 40 (8): 186–215. doi:10.1016/j.cppeds.2010.07.002. PMC 3096006. PMID 20816346.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Bernhoft RA (2012). "Mercury toxicity and treatment: a review of the literature". Journal of Environmental and Public Health. 2012: 460508. doi:10.1155/2012/460508. PMC 3253456. PMID 22235210.
- ^ a b c d e "Mercury and health". WHO. January 2016. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ a b c Kosnett MJ (December 2013). "The role of chelation in the treatment of arsenic and mercury poisoning". Journal of Medical Toxicology. 9 (4): 347–54. doi:10.1007/s13181-013-0344-5. PMC 3846971. PMID 24178900.
- ^ Hong YS, Kim YM, Lee KE (November 2012). "Methylmercury exposure and health effects". Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health = Yebang Uihakhoe Chi. 45 (6): 353–63. doi:10.3961/jpmph.2012.45.6.353. PMC 3514465. PMID 23230465.
- ^ Environment, U. N. (2019-03-04). "Global Mercury Assessment 2018". UNEP - UN Environment Programme. Retrieved 2022-01-12.