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La Revue de Medecine Interne Jul 2011Mercury is a widespread heavy metal with potential severe impacts on human health. Exposure conditions to mercury and profile of toxicity among humans depend on the... (Review)
Review
Mercury is a widespread heavy metal with potential severe impacts on human health. Exposure conditions to mercury and profile of toxicity among humans depend on the chemical forms of the mercury: elemental or metallic mercury, inorganic or organic mercury compounds. This article aims to reviewing and synthesizing the main knowledge of the mercury toxicity and its organic compounds that clinicians should know. Acute inhalation of metallic or inorganic mercury vapours mainly induces pulmonary diseases, whereas chronic inhalation rather induces neurological or renal disorders (encephalopathy and interstitial or glomerular nephritis). Methylmercury poisonings from intoxicated food occurred among some populations resulting in neurological disorders and developmental troubles for children exposed in utero. Treatment using chelating agents is recommended in case of symptomatic acute mercury intoxication; sometimes it improves the clinical effects of chronic mercury poisoning. Although it is currently rare to encounter situations of severe intoxication, efforts remain necessary to decrease the mercury concentration in the environment and to reduce risk on human health due to low level exposure (dental amalgam, fish contamination by organic mercury compounds…). In case of occupational exposure to mercury and its compounds, some disorders could be compensated in France. Clinicians should work with toxicologists for the diagnosis and treatment of mercury intoxication.
Topics: Chelation Therapy; Environmental Exposure; Gastric Lavage; Humans; Mercury; Mercury Poisoning
PubMed: 20579784
DOI: 10.1016/j.revmed.2009.08.024 -
The New England Journal of Medicine Nov 2022
Topics: Humans; Mercury Poisoning
PubMed: 36383715
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMicm2202896 -
Current Problems in Pediatrics Mar 2000
Review
Topics: Acute Disease; Chelating Agents; Chelation Therapy; Child; Diagnosis, Differential; Dimercaprol; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Mercury; Mercury Poisoning; Penicillamine; Succimer; United States
PubMed: 10742922
DOI: 10.1067/mps.2000.104054 -
Journal of Environmental and Public... 2012Mercury is a toxic heavy metal which is widely dispersed in nature. Most human exposure results from fish consumption or dental amalgam. Mercury occurs in several... (Review)
Review
Mercury is a toxic heavy metal which is widely dispersed in nature. Most human exposure results from fish consumption or dental amalgam. Mercury occurs in several chemical forms, with complex pharmacokinetics. Mercury is capable of inducing a wide range of clinical presentations. Diagnosis of mercury toxicity can be challenging but can be obtained with reasonable reliability. Effective therapies for clinical toxicity have been described.
Topics: Chelating Agents; Chelation Therapy; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Mercury; Mercury Poisoning; Treatment Outcome; Unithiol
PubMed: 22235210
DOI: 10.1155/2012/460508 -
Critical Reviews in Toxicology Sep 2006This review covers the toxicology of mercury and its compounds. Special attention is paid to those forms of mercury of current public health concern. Human exposure to... (Review)
Review
This review covers the toxicology of mercury and its compounds. Special attention is paid to those forms of mercury of current public health concern. Human exposure to the vapor of metallic mercury dates back to antiquity but continues today in occupational settings and from dental amalgam. Health risks from methylmercury in edible tissues of fish have been the subject of several large epidemiological investigations and continue to be the subject of intense debate. Ethylmercury in the form of a preservative, thimerosal, added to certain vaccines, is the most recent form of mercury that has become a public health concern. The review leads to general discussion of evolutionary aspects of mercury, protective and toxic mechanisms, and ends on a note that mercury is still an "element of mystery."
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mercury; Mercury Compounds; Mercury Poisoning; Models, Biological; No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; Thimerosal
PubMed: 16973445
DOI: 10.1080/10408440600845619 -
The New England Journal of Medicine Nov 1971
Topics: Dimercaprol; Humans; Mercury Poisoning; Organometallic Compounds
PubMed: 5095747
DOI: 10.1056/nejm197111112852019 -
Medicine Nov 2017Metallic mercury poisoning through intravenous injection is rare, especially for a homicide attempt. Diagnosis and treatment of the disease are challenging. (Review)
Review
RATIONALE
Metallic mercury poisoning through intravenous injection is rare, especially for a homicide attempt. Diagnosis and treatment of the disease are challenging.
PATIENT CONCERNS
A 34-year-old male presented with pyrexia, chill, fatigue, body aches, and pain of the dorsal aspect of right foot. Another case is that of a 29-year-old male who committed suicide by injecting himself metallic mercury 15 g intravenously and presented with dizzy, dyspnea, fatigue, sweatiness, and waist soreness.
DIAGNOSIS
The patient's condition in case 1 was deteriorated after initial treatment. Imaging studies revealed multiple high-density spots throughout the body especially in the lungs. On further questioning, the patient's girlfriend acknowledged that she injected him about 40 g mercury intravenously 11 days ago. The diagnosis was then confirmed with a urinary mercury concentration of 4828 mg/L.
INTERVENTIONS
Surgical excision, continuous blood purification, plasma exchange, alveolar lavage, and chelation were performed successively in case 1. Blood irrigation and chelation therapy were performed in case 2.
OUTCOMES
The laboratory test results and organ function of the patient in case 1 gradually returned to normal. However, in case 2, the patient's dyspnea was getting worse and he finally died due to toxic encephalopathy and respiratory failure.
LESSONS
Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are critical for intravenous mercury poisoning. It should be concerned about the combined use of chelation agents and other treatments, such as surgical excision, hemodialysis and plasma exchange in clinical settings.
Topics: Adult; Fatal Outcome; Homicide; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Mercury; Mercury Poisoning; Suicide
PubMed: 29145289
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000008643 -
Daru : Journal of Faculty of Pharmacy,... Jun 2014Mercury poisoning cases have been reported in many parts of the world, resulting in many deaths every year. Mercury compounds are classified in different chemical types... (Review)
Review
Mercury poisoning cases have been reported in many parts of the world, resulting in many deaths every year. Mercury compounds are classified in different chemical types such as elemental, inorganic and organic forms. Long term exposure to mercury compounds from different sources e.g. water, food, soil and air lead to toxic effects on cardiovascular, pulmonary, urinary, gastrointestinal, neurological systems and skin. Mercury level can be measured in plasma, urine, feces and hair samples. Urinary concentration is a good indicator of poisoning of elemental and inorganic mercury, but organic mercury (e.g. methyl mercury) can be detected easily in feces. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are a rapid, cheap and sensitive method for detection of thymine bound mercuric ions. Silver nanoparticles are used as a sensitive detector of low concentration Hg2+ ions in homogeneous aqueous solutions. Besides supportive therapy, British anti lewisite, dimercaprol (BAL), 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA. succimer) and dimercaptopropanesulfoxid acid (DMPS) are currently used as chelating agents in mercury poisoning. Natural biologic scavengers such as algae, azolla and other aquatic plants possess the ability to uptake mercury traces from the environment.
Topics: Chelating Agents; Humans; Mercury; Mercury Poisoning; Metal Nanoparticles; Thymine
PubMed: 24888360
DOI: 10.1186/2008-2231-22-46 -
Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 1974
Review
Topics: Animals; Cats; Humans; Industrial Waste; Mercury Poisoning; Methylmercury Compounds; Nervous System; Rats; Water Pollution, Chemical
PubMed: 4211507
DOI: No ID Found -
Practical Neurology May 2024A 64-year-old man had progressive unsteadiness over several years, with tingling in his feet. He was a longstanding bodybuilding enthusiast. Clinical assessment and...
A 64-year-old man had progressive unsteadiness over several years, with tingling in his feet. He was a longstanding bodybuilding enthusiast. Clinical assessment and neurophysiology confirmed a cerebellar ataxia and axonal peripheral neuropathy. His serum mercury concentration was significantly raised. We diagnosed chronic mercury toxicity secondary to excessive tuna consumption. We advised him to stop eating tuna and prescribed dimercaptosuccinic acid, after which his serum mercury concentrations subsequently fell. This case report highlights the importance of considering dietary and nutritional causes of neurological disease. We also discuss the mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment of mercury toxicity.
Topics: Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mercury Poisoning; Mercury; Weight Lifting
PubMed: 38253381
DOI: 10.1136/pn-2023-003827