LIQUID MERCURY: AN ATTRACTIVE POISON
Sherlita Amler
Senior Fellow Division of Toxicology ATSDR, USA
Liquid mercury has fascinated people for thousands of
years, and remains an attractive but dangerous poison. Elemental mercury is
commonly used in electrical switches, fluorescent and mercury vapor lamps,
thermometers, barometers, indoor gas meter regulators, equipment gauges,
and hospital equipment such blood pressure monitors, esophageal dilators,
and weighted feeding tubes. Elemental mercury is poorly absorbed from the
gastrointestinal tract, but is readily absorbed by the lungs. Children are
especially vulnerable to mercury toxicity. Acute exposure may result in
predominately respiratory symptoms and chronic exposure primarily affects
the nervous system and kidneys. Urine analysis by cold vapor atomic
adsorption is the most reliable measure of chronic exposure. Principles of
treatment include interrupting exposure, eliminating mercury from the body,
and prevention of further exposure to mercury through appropriate cleanup.