A person can help prevent mercury poisoning by making changes to their diet and environment that limit exposure to the toxic metal. Mercury is a naturally occurring metal that is in many everyday products, albeit in tiny amounts. While this limited exposure is usually considered safe, a buildup of mercury is highly dangerous.
Mercury is a liquid at room temperature and readily vaporizes into the air around it. It is often a by-product of industrial processes, such as burning coal for power. Vaporized mercury can make its way into the rain, soil, and water, where it poses a risk to plants, animals, and humans. As the levels of mercury in the body rise, more symptoms will appear. Adults with mercury poisoning may experience symptoms such as:.
Children with mercury poisoning may show symptoms such as:. Mercury poisoning tends to develop slowly over time if a person comes into frequent contact with mercury. However, in some cases, mercury poisoning comes on quickly and is associated with a specific incident.
Anyone who experiences a sudden onset of mercury poisoning symptoms should call a doctor or poison control. Exposure to high levels of mercury may also put a person at risk for long-term complications, including:. High levels of mercury in the blood may put a person at risk for long-term neurological damage. These effects may be more pronounced in children who are still developing. A study in the Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health noted that many incidents of mercury poisoning have led to long-term nerve damage, which can cause:.
Mercury poisoning also poses a risk to the reproductive system. It may cause reduced sperm count or decreased fertility and may also cause problems with the fetus. Possible effects of mercury poisoning include deformity and a decreased survival rate of the fetus, and reduced growth and size of the newborn at birth.
Mercury helps promote the accumulation of free radicals in the body, which puts the cells at risk for damage. This may lead to an increased risk of heart problems, including heart attack and coronary heart disease.
The most common cause of mercury poisoning is from eating seafood, but people can get mercury poisoning from industrial processing, thermometers and blood pressure machines, dental work, and old paints.
Eating seafood that has been tainted with mercury is one of the most common ways humans accumulate mercury in their bodies. The mercury in seafood is a highly poisonous form of the metal called methylmercury, which forms when mercury dissolves into the water. Methylmercury can be absorbed from the water by all sea creatures, but it also continues through the food chain. Small sea creatures, such as shrimp, often ingest methylmercury and are then eaten by other fish. When EPA published its Cancer Guidelines in , the Agency concluded that environmental exposures to inorganic mercury and methylmercury are not likely to cause cancer in humans.
Technical information about mercury and cancer is available in:. Exposure to methylmercury most commonly occurs when people eat kinds of fish and shellfish that have high levels of methylmercury in their tissues. Almost all people have at least small amounts of methylmercury in their bodies, reflecting the widespread presence of methylmercury in the environment.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC data show that most people have blood mercury levels below levels associated with possible health effects. Methylmercury, however, is a powerful neurotoxin, and people exposed to high levels may experience adverse health effects.
If you are concerned about your exposure to methylmercury, you should consult your physician. Exposures to metallic mercury most often occur when metallic mercury is spilled, or when products that contain metallic mercury break, so that mercury is exposed to the air. If you are concerned about your exposure to metallic mercury, you should consult your physician. Some people who drink water containing inorganic mercury substantially in excess of the maximum contaminant level MCL maximum contaminant level MCL The highest level of a contaminant that EPA allows in drinking water.
MCLs ensure that drinking water does not pose either a short-term or long-term health risk. Bigeye tuna, marlin, and king mackerel also contain high levels of mercury.
In small amounts, the following types of fish are okay to eat once or twice per week:. This will reduce the risk of fetal mercury exposure. Other causes of mercury poisoning can be environmental or from exposure to other forms of the metal. These include:. Mercury poisoning is diagnosed with a physical exam and a blood and urine test. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and when they started. They will also ask you about your dietary choices and other lifestyle habits.
The best way to treat mercury poisoning is to stop your exposure to the metal. If you eat a lot of mercury-containing seafood, stop immediately. If toxicity is linked to your environment or workplace, you might need to take steps to remove yourself from the area to prevent further effects of poisoning. If your mercury levels reach a certain point, your doctor will have you do chelation therapy.
Chelating agents are drugs that remove the metal from your organs and help your body dispose of them. Long term, you may need continuing treatment to manage the effects of mercury poisoning, such as neurological effects. When detected early, mercury poisoning can be halted. Neurological effects from mercury toxicity are often permanent. If you suspect sudden mercury poisoning, call the Poison Control Center at The best way to prevent dietary mercury poisoning is to take care with the amounts and types of seafood that you eat.
You can also:. Fish is one of the most nutritious foods you can eat, but some types of fish contain high levels of mercury. Does it mean you need to avoid all fish? Tuna is a popular and nutritious saltwater fish, but you may worry about its mercury content. This article reviews mercury in tuna and tells you…. Many popular foods are made with raw fish, including sushi.
0コメント