6. Mercury poisoning

Question 1

What are the sources of Mercury?

Answer 1

1. Elemental mercury - manufacture of electrical equipments, paint products, dental amalgam, etc.
2. Mercury salts – disinfectants, solutions (they are bactericidal).
3. Organic mercury compounds are used as seed dressings.

Question 2

What are the symptoms of acute mercury poisoning?

Answer 2

Inhalation of inorganic elemental mercury causes:

1. RIT Symptoms chest pain (angina), Shortness of breath (dyspnoea)
2. GIT Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, gastroenteritis
3. Kidney damage
4. CNS damage

Question 3

What is organic mercury poisoning?

Answer 3

Organic mercury poisoning happens through the consumption of fish containing a high content of methylmercury, which was produced by bacteria in seawater from mercury in the effluent of a nearby vinyl plastics-manufacturing plant.

Question 4

What are the symptoms of chronic mercury poisoning?

Answer 4

Inorganic or organic mercury:

1. Gums and teeth
2. Gastrointestinal disturbances
3. Neurologic and behavioral changes (erethism): characterized by insomnia, memory loss, excitability, and delirium.

Question 5

What are the possible treatment options for acute mercury poisoning?

Answer 5

Therapy involves chelation with oral succimer or with intramuscular dimercaprol.

Question 6

How do you treat chronic mercury poisoning?

Answer 6

Succimer and Unithiol.

Question 7

How do you treat organic mercury poisoning?

Answer 7

Chelators, however the benefits are uncertain.