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Mercury - Toxicological Overview

Key Points

Kinetics and metabolism

  • The main route of exposure to elemental mercury and inorganic mercury is inhalation and ingestion, respectively
  • Following inhalation of elemental mercury or ingestion of inorganic mercury compounds, they are distributed to all tissues but mainly accumulate in the kidney. Elemental mercury may readily cross the blood-brain barrier
  • Elimination of elemental mercury and inorganic mercury compounds predominantly occurs via the urine and faeces

Health effects of acute exposure

  • Inhalation of elemental mercury may cause respiratory effects (cough, dyspnoea), central nervous system effects (tremor, irritability), renal damage (proteinuria, haematuria, acute renal failure), gastrointestinal disturbances (stomatitis, nausea, diarrhoea) and cardiovascular effects (hypertension and tachycardia)
  • Ingestion of inorganic mercury compounds may affect the digestive tract (metallic taste, vomiting, swollen gums, salivation, abdominal pain, diarrhoea), renal damage (oliguria, anuria, acute renal failure), cardiovascular effects (tachycardia, hypertension) and skin/eye effects (acrodynia, burning eyes and conjunctivitis

Health effects of chronic exposure

  • Inhalation of elemental mercury vapour may cause neurotoxicity (fatigue, tremor, headaches, depression, hallucinations), nephrotoxicity (proteinuria and enzymuria) and effects on the oral cavity (stomatitis, sore gums and oral mucosa ulcers)
  • Ingestion of inorganic mercury compounds may cause neurotoxicity (irritability, weakness, photophobia, muscle twitching, confusion or dementia), digestive tract effects (swollen gums, salivation, diarrhoea or abdominal pain) or renal failure
  • IARC classified elemental mercury and mercury compounds as category 3 carcinogens i.e. not classifiable as to the carcinogenicity to humans

 

Decontamination and First Aid       Summary of Health Effects

Prepared by S Bull
CHAPD HQ, HPA
2007
Version 2

This document will be reviewed not later than 3 years, or sooner if substantive evidence becomes available.