Mercury poisoning specifically refers to toxicity occurring from mercury consumption. Mercury is a metal that is noxious in nature and comes in contact with the environment around it. However, common and evident cause of mercury poisoning is due to consuming too much methylmercury or organic mercury. What type of food you consume may also contain small amounts of mercury, but they are not harmful to your health. However, a huge intake of mercury is damaging. Also, this metal is also found in soil grains and water, and also a major element of it occurs in the aquatic zone.
Symptoms of mercury poisoning
Mercury is seen to be a considerable factor in neurological effects. According to research conducted by the Food And Drug Authority(FDA) which elucidates its harmful impacts:
- Causing anxiety
- Tremors occurrence
- Irritability
- Depression problem
- Memory loss
- Numbness
- Pathologic shyness
Mercury factors in youngster
Although its symptoms vary from age to age, due to different body functioning, diet consumption and also environmental conditions also play a part in determining mercury shocks.
- Effecting hearing and speech difficulties
- Lack of coordination and communication setbacks
- Vision changes- a major dilemma
- Nerve loss in hands and face
- Trouble in walking
Mercury poisoning symptoms in children and infants
Mercury poisoning throws a much worse impact on embryonic stags and child nourishment. Infants and children who have been exposed to a high level may have delays in:
- Visual-spatial awareness
- Speech and language development
- Fine motor skills
- Cognition
What factors determine the severity of health effects from mercury exposure?
People in the US are the main victims of this lethal poisoning. When they eat fish and shellfish that contain methylmercury, then their muscles start accumulating mercury traces, which ultimately leads to mercury poisoning. Factors that determine how severe health effects from consumption of mercury.
- the chemical form of mercury
- the dose
- the age of the person exposed (the fetus is the most susceptible)
- the duration of exposure
- the route of exposure — inhalation, ingestion, dermal contact, e.t.c
- the health of the person exposed.
Causes of mercury poisoning
Mercury poisoning from fish:
Seafood contains a high quantity of methylmercury. Toxicity from fish exists in two forms that include:
- Eating fishes having enriched content of mercury
- Eating excessive fish
Fish procure mercury due to living in a water habitat. Fish smaller in size teem have less amount of metal as compared to bulkier fish. In case for the desire of more fish, eating the fish with less amount of metal once or twice a week causes no harm:
- Albacore tuna
- Anchovies
- Catfish
- grouper
- Pollock
- Salmon
- Shrimp
- Snapper
If you’re pregnant, the March of Dimes recommends eating no more than 6 ounces of tuna per week and 8 to 12 ounces of other types of fish. This will reduce the risk of fetal mercury exposure.
Causes due to environmental exposure
- Broken fever thermometers
- “silver” dental fillings
- Certain types of jewelry
- Mining for gold, and household gold extraction
- Skincare products (Those made in the United States don’t usually contain mercury.)
- Exposure to toxic air in industrialized communities
How to treat mercury poisoning?
Although, it has no possible way to cure yourself mercury poisoning. But, if you stop yourself from metal exposure, then it will be the best way of treatment.
- If an environmental factor is causing toxicity in you, then liberate yourself from that area to prevent further poisoning.
- In case of high mercury dose, contact your doctor and he will have to do your chelation therapy.
- In case of long-term effects like neurological effects, you may need to continue treatment to halt further situations.
Read our blood to know how to store food, defrost and leftovers
Ways to prevent the form of mercury poisoning
The best way to prevent dietary mercury poisoning is to take care of the amounts and types of seafood that you eat. You can also:
- Eat larger types of fish on an occasional basis like special festivals or ceremonies.
- Avoid fish containing high levels of mercury if you’re pregnant to prevent from fetus damage.
- Follow fish and seafood serving guidelines for children: According to the FDATrusted Source, children younger than 3 years can eat 1 ounce of fish, while a serving size for children ages 4 to 7 is 2 ounces.
- Be choosy with your sushi choices. Many popular sushi rolls are made with mercury-containing fish. Try to avoid them in case of mercury toxicity.
- Be on the lookout for fish advisories in your area. This is especially useful if you fish for your own seafood.
- Take a blood or urine mercury test before conceiving.
- Wash your hands right away if you think you’ve been exposed to other forms of mercury or any other harmful metal or compound.
- Manage household spills of mercury (such as from CFL bulb breakage)
- Avoid activities with known mercury exposure risk, such as home gold extraction.