Mercury poisoning occurs when a person is exposed to a substantial amount of mercury, a toxic element, that results in various forms of sickness. The illness that mercury causes is contingent on the type of mercury to which you are exposed, time of exposure and dose of exposure. You will find on this page a list of diseases that are associated with mercury poisoning, a video that gives you information on how to minimize your exposure and help detoxification, environments that have elevated levels of the most toxic form of mercury, and daily recommended maximum exposure levels set by the U.S. GovernmentATSDR: ToxFAQs: Mercury
Hazards of Elemental Mercury Poisoning
- Alzheimer's disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Dementia
- Lacunar infarcation
- Cerebellar degenerative disease
Hazards of Inorganic Mercury Poisoning
- Gastroenteritis
- Acid reflux
- Arsenic poisoning
- Iron poisoning
- Phosphorus poisoning
Hazards of Organic Mercury Poisoning
- Cerebral palsy
- Intrauterine hypoxia
- Embryo teratogenic effects
Disclaimer
The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you have mercury poisoning, please consult your doctor.
Dr. Mark Hyman Gives Advice on How to Minimize Mercury Exposure and Boost Your Detoxification Metabolism
Dr. Mark Hyman recommends that everyone get tested for levels of mercury in the blood and for omega 3 fatty acid deficiency. You can minimize your dietary intake of mercury from fish if you eat only small fish that fit into your frying pan, and it is wise to avoid eating tuna, shark, sea bass, swordfish and river fish. He recommends taking omega 3 supplements only from distillation-purified sources. For vegetarians, intake of nuts and seeds can provide you with your omega-3 needs, but since it is in a different form than animal omega-3, a DHA supplement of 100-200 mg/day is needed to metabolize the omega-3.
Mercury Poisoning Treatment Options
- Wikipedia: Chelation Therapy
Mercury Poisoning Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Mercury Poisoning Clinical Trials
Mercury Poisoning Discussion and Blogs
- TreeHugger: Mercury Poisoning: It's Not Just Fish...
References
Fast Facts
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Cause
Mercury exposure
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Fact:
Dangerous amounts maybe found in tuna, Salmon, Shark, Sea Bass, Swordfish, river fishATSDR: ToxFAQs: Mercury
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Types
Organic, inorganic, elementaleMedicine: Toxicity, Mercury
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Fact:
Symptoms range depending on form of mercuryATSDR: ToxFAQs: Mercury
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Fact:
Thimerosal, a preservative for vaccines and other products, contains mercury, however the CDC believes poisoning risk is minimal due to its formeMedicine: Toxicity, Mercury
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Most toxic form
Methylmercury
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Environments/locations that favor methylmercury formation
wetlands, dilute low-pH lakes in Northeast and Northcentral United States, parts of the Florida Everglades, newly flooded reservoirs, and coastal wetlands, particularly along the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, and San Francisco Bay.
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Primary environmental source
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Major concern
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Daily maximum exposure level
0.1 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day
