In minimal doses, mercury is generally considered safe.
However, mercury is a knownneurotoxinthat can cause many adverse health effects in higher amounts.
The most common form of mercury poisoning occurs from consuming fish and seafood containing high levels of mercury.
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This article provides an overview of mercury poisoning, symptoms, complications, diagnosis, and treatment.
There are different types of mercury poisoning with different symptoms.
Methylmercury
One of the most common types of mercury poisoning comes from exposure tomethylmercury.
This most commonly pops up if people eat fish or shellfish containing high amounts of methylmercury.
This bang out can occur when metallic mercury breaks or spills and the vapors become exposed to air.
Metallic mercury can be found in dental fillings, thermostats, jewelry, and school laboratories.
This exposure can negatively affect brain and nervous system development.
Methylmercury positioningfrom eating fish and seafood high in merceryrequires a blood test for diagnosis.
Urine mercury levels do not help determine this bang out of mercury poisoning.
Treatment
The first step for treatment requires identifying the source of mercury exposure and removing it.
People with high levels of mercury poisoning in the blood may also be prescribedchelationtherapy.
The chelating agent binds to mercury and other toxins and exits the body through urination.
Summary
Mercury is a neurotoxin that can cause many adverse health effects at high levels.
The most common form of mercury poisoning occurs from consuming high-mercury fish and seafood.
Methylmercury exposure can negatively affect infants in the womb and adversely affect their brain and nervous system development.
Fortunately, treatments are available to reverse mercury poisoning and its effects.
If you are having symptoms of mercury poisoning, contact your healthcare provider for evaluation and testing.
There is currently no way to test mercury fillings directly.
One of the most common types of mercury poisoning comes from exposure to methylmercury.
This most commonly triggers when people eat fish or shellfish containing high amounts of methylmercury.
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Health effects of exposures to mercury.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Organic mercury.
