Inhalation is one common way for mercury to enter our bodies and is often experienced in workplaces where mercury or its compounds are used or produced such as dental offices and manufacturing industries. Consuming these types of fish regularly can lead to significant mercury exposure. Large, long-lived fish like sharks, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish tend to have the highest levels of mercury because they eat many smaller fish throughout their lives. Over time, mercury concentrations can build up in their bodies, a process called bioaccumulation. Mercury is an element that is absorbed by seafood when they eat smaller organisms that have ingested it. The most common way people are exposed to mercury is through the consumption of fish and other seafood. While these items aren’t typically harmful under normal use, they can release mercury vapors if broken or improperly disposed. These include fluorescent and low-energy lamps, mercury-containing thermometers, and older-model thermostats. This may come as a surprise but a variety of common household items that we use do contain mercury. People may be exposed when they breathe air containing elemental mercury vapors like in dental offices where amalgam fillings (which contain mercury) are used or in industries that manufacture products containing mercury such as batteries, fluorescent lights, and medical equipment. This highly toxic form builds up in fish and shellfish making the ingestion of these food sources potentially harmful.Ĭertain work environments can also expose individuals to unsafe levels of mercury. Once released into the atmosphere, mercury can travel long distances before falling to the ground, accumulating in soils and sediments, and converting bacteria into methylmercury. For example, coal-fired power plants are one of the largest sources of mercury emissions into the air. Mercury is a naturally occurring element found in air, water, and soil however, human activities such as burning fossil fuels, mining, and industrial processes have increased the levels of mercury in our environment. Our team of experts is ready to help you navigate these health challenges effectively to make sure you and your family are safe from the harmful effects of mercury poisoning. Mercury poisoning is a serious health concern that requires immediate attention and treatment.Īt TGH Urgent Care powered by FastTrack, we understand the severity of mercury poisoning and are committed to providing immediate attention and treatment for those effected.

Mercury exposure can also cause birth defects in unborn children. Mercury poisoning can effect the nervous, digestive, and immune systems as well as the lungs, kidneys, skin, and eyes.

When people are exposed to mercury, it can build up in their bodies over time and cause serious health problems. It is also found in certain types of fish and shellfish. Mercury is a heavy, silvery-white liquid metal used in thermometers, barometers, fluorescent lighting, batteries, and in the manufacture of chemicals. If you are concerned about an exposure to inorganic mercury, you should consult your physician.Mercury poisoning is a metal poisoning caused by exposure to mercury or its compounds. Some states set MCLs which are more strict than EPA's. for many years could experience kidney damage. EPA sets MCLs at levels that are economically and technologically feasible. MCLs ensure that drinking water does not pose either a short-term or long-term health risk. Some people who drink water containing inorganic mercury substantially in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) maximum contaminant levelThe highest level of a contaminant that EPA allows in drinking water. Symptoms of high exposures to inorganic mercury include: Both inorganic and organic mercury are absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and affect other systems through this route. High exposure to inorganic mercury may result in damage to the gastrointestinal tract, the nervous system, and the kidneys.

Mercury poisoning effects