Where is mercury poisoning common

Mercury is toxic to humans. There is no standard cure for mercury poisoning, so it is best to avoid exposure to high amounts of mercury when possible.

Eliminating risk factors by making changes in the diet and work or living environment may help reduce the levels of mercury in the body. It is essential to consult a doctor at the first sign of mercury poisoning, as it can have long-lasting effects.

Parents and caregivers should also be aware of the signs of mercury poisoning in children and call a doctor if a child or infant displays any symptoms. Arsenic poisoning is caused by the ingestion, absorption, or inhalation of dangerous amounts of arsenic, a natural semi-metallic chemical. Sepsis happens when an infection triggers a potentially life threatening immune response throughout the body. Here, learn to spot it and what to do…. Zinc is a mineral that is essential for human health.

Here, find out why people need zinc, which foods supply it, and what happens if levels are too…. Overview Symptoms Complications Causes Diagnosis Treatment Outlook Mercury poisoning is the result of being exposed to too much mercury, either through the diet or environment.

What is mercury poisoning? Share on Pinterest Mercury poisoning may lead to neurological symptoms. Symptoms and early signs. Long-term complications. Share on Pinterest Mercury poisoning may cause slow reflexes, damaged motor skills, and intelligence disorders. Share on Pinterest The most common way for a human to have mercury poisoning is by eating seafood tainted with mercury. Medically reviewed by Suzanne Falck, M. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals.

Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. What is arsenic poisoning? Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Sepsis: What you need to know Medically reviewed by Kristen M.

Moyer, MD. What are the health benefits of zinc? If mercury poisoning is suspected, treatment might begin before the diagnosis is confirmed. This is because the test results can take some time to come back to the doctor.

If mercury poisoning is suspected in people who are critically ill, your doctor will most likely treat you with chelation therapy, no matter what form of mercury caused the poisoning. Chelation therapy is made up of compounds that enter your bloodstream and bind to the mercury so that it can be eliminated by your body. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. When returning to a flood-affected area, remember that wild animals, including rats, mice, snakes or spiders, may be trapped in your home, shed or garden.

When returning to your home after a flood, take precautions to reduce the possibility of injury, illness or disease. Around 75 per cent of Melbourne's air pollution is caused by vehicle emissions.

Allergy occurs when the body overreacts to a 'trigger' that is harmless to most people. Mine tailings near goldmines may contain high levels of arsenic. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.

The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.

The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Environmental health. Home Environmental health. Mercury exposure and poisoning. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Mercury in the environment Reducing exposure to mercury People at risk of exposure to mercury Pink disease Symptoms of mercury poisoning Diagnosis of mercury poisoning Treatment of mercury poisoning Where to get help Things to remember.

In our environment, the three forms of mercury present are: elemental metal — such as in mercury thermometers and dental fillings organic compound — mercury is converted by bacteria in the water into methylmercury and this enters the fish food chain inorganic compound — naturally present in coal, mercury is released into the air when coal is burned to generate power.

Reducing exposure to mercury There are a number of precautions that you can take to minimise your exposure to mercury while also reducing the amount of mercury in our environment. Reducing exposure to mercury from fish Educate yourself about the types of fish that are more likely to contain higher levels of mercury. These include: shark flake orange roughy swordfish marlin southern bluefin tuna gemfish ling. Reducing exposure to mercury from fluorescent bulbs and lamps In , new standards were introduced for low-energy bulbs in Australia.

Broken tubes, bulbs or lamps can be cleaned up as follows: Air ventilate the room. Wear gloves and scoop up all the glass fragments and powder. Put all the broken globe or tube into a rigid, sealed container. Use sticky tape to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in a glass jar or plastic bag. Continue to air the room for 12 to 24 hours.

Dispose of the mercury and any contaminated items in the rubbish, not in the recycling bin. Reducing exposure to mercury from thermometers and other devices Spirit-containing thermometers are now widely available, but some people still use thermometers containing silver mercury. The procedure includes the following steps: Clear the room of people and pets. Air ventilate the room for 15 minutes turn off ducted heating or cooling before cleaning up.

Do not use a vacuum cleaner or broom. Remove jewellery, wear gloves and wear old clothing that you can throw away. Clean up using an eyedropper or syringe to pick up droplets of mercury or use a pen or card to guide the droplets onto a piece of card. Use sticky tape to pick up small droplets. Place mercury droplets into a strong plastic container with a lid. Keep the room ventilated for 24 hours.

Place any item including clothes that came into contact with the mercury into a sealed plastic bag and place in the rubbish. Contaminated carpet and other absorbent items will need to be cut out or removed and disposed of carefully.

More detailed information is available for cleaning procedures. The following steps should be taken: Evacuate the area. Air ventilate the area. If you eat a lot of mercury-containing seafood, stop immediately. If toxicity is linked to your environment or workplace, you might need to take steps to remove yourself from the area to prevent further effects of poisoning. If your mercury levels reach a certain point, your doctor will have you do chelation therapy.

Chelating agents are drugs that remove the metal from your organs and help your body dispose of them. Long term, you may need continuing treatment to manage the effects of mercury poisoning, such as neurological effects.

When detected early, mercury poisoning can be halted. Neurological effects from mercury toxicity are often permanent. If you suspect sudden mercury poisoning, call the Poison Control Center at The best way to prevent dietary mercury poisoning is to take care with the amounts and types of seafood that you eat. You can also:. Fish is one of the most nutritious foods you can eat, but some types of fish contain high levels of mercury. Does it mean you need to avoid all fish?

Tuna is a popular and nutritious saltwater fish, but you may worry about its mercury content. This article reviews mercury in tuna and tells you…. Many popular foods are made with raw fish, including sushi. Raw fish is highly nutritious but there are some risks, especially for pregnant women.

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