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Journal of Pediatric Health Care :... 2007Representing 1 in 6 children in the United States, Latino children incur disproportionate exposures to air pollutants, pesticides, and toxic industrial chemicals, as... (Review)
Review
Representing 1 in 6 children in the United States, Latino children incur disproportionate exposures to air pollutants, pesticides, and toxic industrial chemicals, as well as lead and mercury from candy, traditional folk remedies, religious practices, and other sources. Latino children also have higher rates of asthma, lead and mercury poisoning, behavioral and developmental disorders, and certain cancers. Concurrent exposure to multiple pollutants, pre-existing disease, poor nutrition, substandard housing, limited access to health care, and other factors related to their lower socioeconomic status increase Latino children's susceptibility to environmental contaminants. Targeted research, education, prevention and intervention efforts, and economic development initiatives are needed.
Topics: Asthma; Child; Child Welfare; Emigration and Immigration; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Health; Health Surveys; Hispanic or Latino; Humans; Lead Poisoning; Medical History Taking; Mercury Poisoning; Nurse's Role; Nursing Assessment; Pediatric Nursing; Population Surveillance; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Tobacco Smoke Pollution; United States
PubMed: 17825728
DOI: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2006.12.005 -
Archives of Toxicology Jan 2017Mercury exists in the environment in various forms, all of which pose a risk to human health. Despite guidelines regulating the industrial release of mercury into the... (Review)
Review
Mercury exists in the environment in various forms, all of which pose a risk to human health. Despite guidelines regulating the industrial release of mercury into the environment, humans continue to be exposed regularly to various forms of this metal via inhalation or ingestion. Following exposure, mercuric ions are taken up by and accumulate in numerous organs, including brain, intestine, kidney, liver, and placenta. In order to understand the toxicological effects of exposure to mercury, a thorough understanding of the mechanisms that facilitate entry of mercuric ions into target cells must first be obtained. A number of mechanisms for the transport of mercuric ions into target cells and organs have been proposed in recent years. However, the ability of these mechanisms to transport mercuric ions and the regulatory features of these carriers have not been characterized completely. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current findings related to the mechanisms that may be involved in the transport of inorganic and organic forms of mercury in target tissues and organs. This review will describe mechanisms known to be involved in the transport of mercury and will also propose additional mechanisms that may potentially be involved in the transport of mercuric ions into target cells.
Topics: Absorption, Physiological; Animals; Biological Transport; Blood-Brain Barrier; Environmental Pollutants; Female; Humans; Male; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Mercury Compounds; Mercury Poisoning; Methylmercury Compounds; Models, Biological; Organomercury Compounds; Pregnancy; Tissue Distribution; Toxicokinetics
PubMed: 27422290
DOI: 10.1007/s00204-016-1803-y -
Science Progress 2012There is a long history and an overwhelming amount of data on the toxicity of heavy metal compounds. Here a brief look is taken of some aspects of the toxicity of lead,... (Review)
Review
There is a long history and an overwhelming amount of data on the toxicity of heavy metal compounds. Here a brief look is taken of some aspects of the toxicity of lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic, chosen for their historical importance and environmental significance, highlighting especially the contrast between the acute and chronic toxicity of purely inorganic species and their organic derivatives. For further details of other toxic metal compounds, the reader might like to consult "Elements of murder: a history of poison" by John Emsley (2005, Oxford University Press).
Topics: Animals; Cadmium Poisoning; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Lead Poisoning; Mercury Poisoning; Metalloids; Metals, Heavy; Methylmercury Compounds; Public Health; Toxicity Tests, Acute
PubMed: 22574386
DOI: 10.3184/003685012X13286247093244 -
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 -
Basic & Clinical Pharmacology &... May 2019Numerous studies have reported neurobehavioural effects in dental personnel occupationally exposed to chronic low levels of mercury (Hg). Hg exposure from dental work... (Review)
Review
Numerous studies have reported neurobehavioural effects in dental personnel occupationally exposed to chronic low levels of mercury (Hg). Hg exposure from dental work may also induce various chronic conditions such as elevation of amyloid protein expression, deterioration of microtubules and increase or inhibition of transmitter release at motor nerve terminal endings. Therefore, clinical studies of Hg toxicity in dentistry may provide new knowledge about disturbed metal homeostasis in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and mood disorders. The purpose of this MiniReview is to evaluate the evidence of possible relevance between Hg exposure in dentistry and idiopathic disturbances in motor functions, cognitive skills and affective reactions, as well as dose-response relationships.
Topics: Dental Assistants; Dentistry; Dentists; Humans; Mercury; Mercury Poisoning; Mood Disorders; Neuropsychological Tests; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure
PubMed: 30589214
DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.13199 -
International Journal of Environmental... Apr 2018The biological behaviour and clinical significance of mercury toxicity vary according to its chemical structure. Mercury differs in its degree of toxicity and in its...
The biological behaviour and clinical significance of mercury toxicity vary according to its chemical structure. Mercury differs in its degree of toxicity and in its effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems as well as on organs such as the lungs, kidneys, skin, eyes and heart. Human exposure occurs mainly through inhalation of elemental mercury vapours during industrial and artisanal processes such as artisanal and small-scale gold mining. A 52-years-old female, housewife, with a body mass index of 25.3 kg/cm², without smoking or alcohol habits or any important clinical or chronic cardiovascular history, was admitted to the emergency room due to probable accidental poisoning by butane gas. Clinical manifestations with a headache, dizziness, cough, and dyspnoea of medium to small efforts. An initial physical exploration with Glasgow scored at 15, with arrhythmic heart sounds, pulmonary fields with bilateral subcrepitant rales and right basal predominance. Electrocardiographic findings were as follows: a cardiac frequency of 50 beats per minute and atrioventricular dissociation. Laboratory parameters were: white blood cells at 15.8 × 10⁸/L; aspartate aminotransferase at 38 U/L; lactate dehydrogenase at 1288 U/L; creatine-kinase at 115 U/L; CK-MB fraction at 28 U/L; and other biochemical parameters were within the reference values. A radiographic evaluation showed flow cephalization, diffuse bilateral infiltrates with right basal predominance. In addition, the patient presented data of low secondary expenditure to third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block for which the placement of a transvenous pacemaker was decided, substantially improving the haemodynamic parameters. Subsequently, after a family interrogation, the diagnosis of mercury inhalation poisoning was established. An initial detection of mercury concentration (Hg(0)) was carried out, reporting 243.5 µg/L. In view of this new evidence, mercury chelation therapy with intravenous calcium disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (CaNa₂·EDTA) was initiated. After 8-days of hospital stay, she presented a favourable evolution with both clinical and radiological improvements, so that the mechanical ventilation progressed to extubating. Subsequently, she was referred for cardiology because of her persistent 3rd-degree atrioventricular block, deciding to place a definitive bicameral pacemaker. The patient was discharged from the hospital 14 days after admission due to clinical improvements with mercury plasma levels at 5 µmol/L and a heart rhythm from the pacemaker. We show evidence that acute exposure to elemental mercury can affect the heart rhythm, including a complete atrioventricular blockage.
Topics: Atrioventricular Block; Female; Humans; Mercury; Mercury Poisoning; Middle Aged; Pacemaker, Artificial
PubMed: 29614795
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15040657 -
CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association... Jun 1998
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Canada; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Fishes; Food Contamination; Foodborne Diseases; Humans; Indians, North American; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Life Style; Mercury Poisoning; Methylmercury Compounds; Pregnancy; Psychosocial Deprivation; Risk Factors
PubMed: 9629110
DOI: No ID Found -
Anatolian Journal of Cardiology Jan 2016
Topics: Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Female; Humans; Mercury Poisoning
PubMed: 26854676
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Environmental and Public... 2012Today's environment has different impacts on our body than previous generations. Heavy metals are a growing concern in medicine. Doctors and individuals request the... (Review)
Review
Today's environment has different impacts on our body than previous generations. Heavy metals are a growing concern in medicine. Doctors and individuals request the removal of their amalgam (silver mercury) restorations due to the high mercury content. A safe protocol to replace the silver mercury filling will ensure that there is minimal if any absorption of materials while being removed. Strong alternative white composite and lab-processed materials are available today to create a healthy and functioning mouth. Preparation of the patient prior to the procedure and after treatment is vital to establish the excretion of the mercury from the body.
Topics: Dental Amalgam; Dental Restoration, Permanent; Humans; Mercury Poisoning; Root Canal Filling Materials
PubMed: 22315627
DOI: 10.1155/2012/517391 -
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology 1992
Review
Topics: 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; Adolescent; Adult; Brain Diseases; Child, Preschool; Female; Fetal Diseases; Humans; Leukodystrophy, Globoid Cell; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Mercury Poisoning; Methotrexate; N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; Solvents
PubMed: 1348902
DOI: No ID Found