Mercury Poisoning: Symptoms, Consequences, Treatment

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Mercury poisoning

Mercury poisoning occurs not only in industry, but also in everyday life. This metal or its salts contain mercury thermometers, fluorescent lamps, and some medicines.

Source: rybnoe.net

Mercury is a heavy metal, the peculiarity of which is that at ordinary room temperature it is not in a solid, but in a liquid state of aggregation.

How does mercury poisoning occur?

The danger is represented by vapors of mercury and its compounds, which have a cumulative effect. Even small doses of these substances have a pronounced toxic effect on:

eyes;
skin;
lungs;
liver;
kidneys;
the immune system;
nervous system;
digestive organs.

When vaporous mercury is inhaled in the respiratory tract, its molecules are oxidized and then combined with the sulfhydryl group of proteins. The resulting substances enter the bloodstream and are carried throughout the body, causing damage to various organs.

Inorganic mercury compounds (salts) can enter the body through the skin or gastrointestinal tract. They have a pronounced irritating effect on the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, which leads to its inflammation, and then ulceration. Mercury salts accumulate in:

skin;
intestines;
lungs;
spleen;
bone marrow;
erythrocytes;
liver;
a particularly high concentration of them is observed in the renal tissue.

Methylated mercury (an organic compound) easily penetrates into tissues through the digestive tract and skin, quickly overcomes the erythrocyte membrane and forms a stable connection with hemoglobin, causing tissue hypoxia. Methylated mercury can accumulate in the nervous tissue and kidneys.

Poisoning symptoms

The symptoms of mercury poisoning in each case will be different, since the clinical picture is largely determined by the way the poisonous substance enters the body, as well as the duration of contact with it.

Acute mercury vapor poisoning is characterized by:

inflammation of the respiratory tract, flowing like interstitial pneumonitis;
increased mental irritability;
tremor.

In chronic poisoning with mercury vapor, the nervous system suffers to a greater extent, which leads to the appearance of the following clinical signs:

fast fatiguability;
weight loss, anorexia;
dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract;
pronounced tremor of the hands when trying to perform any voluntary movement, which later becomes generalized, that is, affecting all muscle groups;
the development of mercury erethism (high nervous excitability, insomnia, a sharp deterioration in memory and mental processes, timidity, and in severe poisoning - delirium).

For chronic poisoning with inorganic mercury, the same symptoms are characteristic as for chronic intoxication caused by prolonged inhalation of vapors of this metal. But in this case, the clinical picture includes manifestations of stomatitis, gingivitis, as well as loosening and loss of teeth. Over time, patients experience damage to the kidney tissue, which is manifested by the development of nephrotic syndrome.

The effect of mercury salts on the skin can cause various lesions, from mild erythema to severe forms of scaly dermatitis. In young children, skin contact with inorganic mercury causes the development of pink disease (acrodynia), which is often regarded as Kawasaki disease. Other symptoms of mercury salt poisoning when they enter the body through the skin are:

hypertrichosis;
photosensitivity;
generalized rash;
skin irritation;
profuse sweating, which often leads to sloughing of the surface cells of the skin of the hands and feet.

For acute poisoning with mercury salts penetrating through the digestive tract are characterized by:

nausea;
vomiting mixed with blood;
stomach ache;
tenesmus;
bloody stools;
necrosis of the intestinal mucous membranes;
acute renal necrosis.

Severe poisoning is often accompanied by massive fluid loss. As a result, the patient develops hypovolemic shock, which can be fatal.

Poisoning with methylated mercury is extremely dangerous. They are accompanied by the following signs:

cerebral palsy, the development of which is associated with atrophic processes in the cerebellar cortex and cerebral hemispheres;
headaches;
paresthesia;
disorders of speech, hearing and vision;
memory loss;
violation of coordination of movements;
erethism;
stupor;
coma.

In case of severe poisoning, death is possible.

Source: depositphotos.com

First aid for mercury poisoning

In case of acute poisoning with metallic mercury vapors, the victim should be taken to fresh air, unbuttoned tight clothing.

In case of acute poisoning with mercury that has entered the body through the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to urgently flush the stomach. To do this, you should drink a few glasses of clean water, and then, by pressing on the root of the tongue, induce reflex vomiting.

Preparations with an absorbing effect do not interact with mercury, so it is pointless to take them.

In case of contact of the skin with mercury or its compounds, they must be thoroughly washed with a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate.

When is medical attention needed?

For any type of mercury poisoning, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible - either call an ambulance team, or independently ensure the delivery of the victim to the hospital.

To bind toxic mercury compounds that have entered the digestive system, the patient is prescribed polythiol resin.

At a high concentration of mercury in serum and urine, complex-forming therapy is indicated, for which Dimercaprol and D-penicillamine are prescribed. The main goal of this treatment is to accelerate the excretion of mercury in the urine and to reduce the severity of clinical symptoms of intoxication.

Possible consequences

Mercury poisoning is often severe and results in complications. Possible consequences:

disorders of higher mental activity, up to disability;
mercury poisoning during pregnancy can cause the development of various abnormalities in the fetus;
fatal outcome.

Prevention

For the prevention of household mercury poisoning, one should very carefully use any devices (household, medical) containing metallic mercury or its compounds.

If mercury spills in the room, you should contact the SES and call a team of specialists in demercurization (removal of mercury). If this is not possible, they start demercurization on their own.

Collect the spilled mercury in a hermetically sealed container using a pipette or wet cotton balls.
The place where the mercury poured out should be abundantly covered with baking soda or salt, after 2-3 hours, remove the powder, carefully treat the surface with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
The room should be constantly ventilated during the week in order to remove the mercury vapor as completely as possible.
It is forbidden to use a vacuum cleaner and a broom for cleaning mercury, pour the collected mercury into the sewer, use and wash clothes and other textiles that have gotten mercury - they must be disposed of.

In industries that use mercury compounds in their work, careful monitoring of compliance with safety regulations must be carried out.

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Elena Minkina Doctor anesthesiologist-resuscitator About the author

Education: graduated from the Tashkent State Medical Institute, specializing in general medicine in 1991. Repeatedly passed refresher courses.

Work experience: anesthesiologist-resuscitator of the city maternity complex, resuscitator of the hemodialysis department.

The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!