POJOKKAMPUNG.ORG-Mercury poisoning is a condition when a person is exposed to certain amounts of mercury or mercury, which in turn causes damage and disorders to organs, such as the heart and brain. Mercury poisoning often results from eating foods that contain mercury or inhaling mercury gas. The most dangerous type of mercury is methyl mercury (organic mercury). This is because about 90% of the levels of methyl mercury that are ingested or enter the body will be absorbed into the blood. This figure is very large when compared to other types of mercury which are only absorbed 2-10% into the blood. When it enters the body, mercury can cause disturbances in many body systems, such as the nervous system, digestive system, immune system, and organs. body, such as the lungs, kidneys, eyes, and skin.

Methyl mercury is often found in seafood, such as fish and shellfish that come from contaminated waters. The amount of methyl mercury contained in the fish's body varies, depending on its position in the food chain.Several types of fish with a high food chain position, such as mackerel, shark, tuna, swordfish, and marlin, have the potential to store high amounts of mercury.

Causes of Mercury Poisoning

Mercury is a metallic element that occurs naturally in soil, water and air. These compounds can also be found in everyday products, such as food products, but generally in harmless amounts. However, the amount of mercury in the environment is increasing due to the very rapid development of the industry.Mercury itself is divided into 3 types, namely:

Elemental mercury or liquid mercury (Mercury)


This type of mercury is usually found in thermometer tubes, electric switches, fluorescent lamps, dental fillings, and some medical equipment. Elemental mercury can be dangerous if it becomes a vapor or gas and is then inhaled by humans.

Organic mercury

Organic mercury can be found in fish and coal burning smoke. This type of mercury can be harmful to people who are exposed to it for a long time, whether it is ingested, inhaled, or in contact with the skin.

Inorganic mercury

This type of mercury is found in batteries, chemical laboratories, and some disinfectants, and is dangerous if swallowed.

Mercury poisoning can occur due to periodic exposure to mercury for a long time (chronic) with a small amount of mercury, or suddenly (acutely) with a large amount of mercury. The following are some of the factors that can cause mercury poisoning:

Eating fish contaminated with mercury
Inhaling air contaminated with mercury due to industrial processes, such as smoke from burning coal, burning fuel oil, and burning wood
Inhaling mercury vapor while heating gold ore in a gold mine
Use a skin lightening cream that contains mercury
Inhalation of smoke from erupting mountains or forest fires
Inhalation of mercury vapor when a fluorescent lamp breaks
Inhaling mercury vapor when the mercury thermometer is broken or swallowing mercury when the thermometer accidentally breaks in the mouth
Based on the causes above, people who consume fish too often, live or work in the vicinity of industrial places that use mercury, such as mining, are among those at high risk of mercury poisoning.

Causes of Mercury Poisoning

A person can get mercury poisoning under several different circumstances, such as:

Eating fish contaminated with mercury.
Inhalation of smoke from erupting mountains or forest fires.
Inhaling polluted air due to industrial processes, such as smoke from burning coal, burning fuel oil, and burning wood
Dental fillings that contain amalgam can release mercury, so it can be inhaled or swallowed.
Inhalation of mercury vapor when a fluorescent lamp breaks.
Inhalation of mercury vapor when the mercury thermometer is broken or mercury is swallowed when the thermometer accidentally breaks in the mouth.
Mercury vapor inhalation while heating gold ore in a gold mine.
use a skin lightening cream that contains mercury.

Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning

The symptoms that arise from mercury poisoning can vary widely. This depends on the type of mercury that enters the body, how it is entered, the amount of mercury that is entered, the length of exposure, the age of the person exposed, and the person's general health condition.

Mercury damages the nervous system, digestive tract, and kidneys and causes heart, lung, immune system, eye and skin disorders. Based on the organs affected, the following are the symptoms of mercury poisoning.

Nervous system

Mercury poisoning will cause damage to the nervous system. Some of the complaints and symptoms that can arise are:

Headache
Tremor
tingling sensation, especially around the hands and feet, and the mouth
Visual disturbances, such as tunnel vision and blindness
Speech and hearing disorders
Disorders of coordination and movement, including ataxia
Impaired emotional and cognitive function
Muscle weakness
It's hard to walk
Memory loss

Kidney

Mercury poisoning can cause kidney failure. This condition can be recognized by the appearance of symptoms in the form of small urine output, persistent nausea, shortness of breath for which the cause is not clear, and the body feels very weak.

Apart from the nervous system and kidneys, several other organs that can be affected by mercury poisoning are as follows:

Heart, mercury poisoning can cause chest pain and cardiomyopathy.
Lungs and airways, mercury inhalation can cause sore throat, if exposed to large amounts can even cause respiratory failure.
Eyes, when exposed to mercury, can develop irritation and peripheral vision problems
Skin, mercury poisoning can cause the appearance of skin lesions, such as a papule rash
Mercury exposure during pregnancy can also cause developmental disorders in the fetus. As a result, children can experience impaired cognitive function, memory problems, attention deficit disorders, and other developmental disorders, such as speech, motor skills and vision.

When to see a doctor

Get checked by a doctor immediately if you are worried about mercury poisoning, especially if the symptoms mentioned above occur.
Seek medical help immediately if you or someone around you has any of the following conditions:
Ingesting mercury intentionally or accidentally
Inhalation of mercury vapor or gas and experience respiratory distress

Mercury Poisoning Diagnosis

To diagnose mercury poisoning, the doctor will ask about the symptoms, medical history, diet, and occupation, of the patient or the person who brought the patient.

After that, the doctor will carry out a thorough examination, including a nerve examination. In order for the diagnosis to be more accurate, the doctor will perform several supporting tests, such as:

blood or urine test, to measure mercury levels in the body
stool examination, to find out if there has been bleeding in the digestive tract
MRI, to determine the level of atrophy (cell loss) in the brain
X-rays, to detect the presence of mercury that has entered and spread in the body

Mercury Poisoning Treatment

There is no specific treatment that can be used to treat mercury poisoning. The best that can be done is to immediately stop exposure to mercury and provide treatment as early as possible.

The first treatment for mercury poisoned patients is to remove the patient from the source of exposure. Then, avoid other people coming into contact with the patient. If possible, remove mercury-contaminated patient clothing.

If the patient inhales large amounts of mercury, the patient needs to be treated immediately by a doctor. The doctor will ensure that the airway, breathing process, and circulation or blood flow of the patient are safe.

Installation of breathing aids, such as intubation and infusion will also be done in the initial treatment. In the event of stopping breathing or cardiac arrest, the doctor will perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Patients who are poisoned by mercury due to ingestion of this substance should not take drugs that induce vomiting. This is because vomiting can increase the risk of healthy tissue exposure to mercury.

In cases of chronic mercury poisoning, the source of the mercury must be known and immediately so as not to cause further exposure.

If acute mercury poisoning occurs as a result of the patient ingesting mercury, the doctor will perform a gastric lavage or gastric lavage. This procedure is done by inserting a special tube from the nose that is connected to the stomach, to wash the stomach and remove all the contents of the stomach.

To bind toxins that may still be in the digestive tract, doctors can also give activated charcoal. This is usually done if poisoning has occurred recently.

If there is an increase in mercury levels in the blood or urine, chelation therapy is necessary as a first step. Chelation therapy is a drug delivery therapy that functions to remove metals from the blood. Some of the drugs commonly given in this therapy are dimercapol (BAL) or succimer (DMSA).

Meanwhile, in patients who already have impaired kidney function, dialysis procedures may be necessary.

Mercury Poisoning Complications

Mercury poisoning due to exposure to large amounts of mercury or from slow treatment can cause several serious complications, such as:

Permanent lung damage
Brain damage
Extreme dehydration and bleeding
Kidney failure

Mercury Poisoning Prevention

You can prevent mercury poisoning by avoiding the things that cause this condition, such as:

Limit consumption of types of seafood that have the potential to have high mercury levels.
Providing fish consumption to children according to recommended health standards, that is, children aged less than 3 years can consume 1 ounce of fish / day, while for children aged 4-7 years, the recommended portion of fish is 2 ounces / day.
Avoid consuming seafood with high mercury levels while pregnant
Avoid activities that have a high risk of exposure to mercury, such as cooking with firewood indoors or in rooms with poor ventilation
Wash your hands or shower immediately if you think you have been exposed to mercury
Be careful when disposing of products containing mercury or when cleaning them in case of mercury leak or spill

Things that need to be considered when cleaning a room exposed to mercury include:

Do not use a vacuum cleaner or broom to remove mercury.
Do not touch mercury without wearing protection.
Do not discharge mercury into drains.
Dispose of mercury contaminated clothing in closed bags.
Do not place bags containing mercury contaminated items in household trash.