An overview of the complications of acute and chronic mercury exposures. Past, present and future

Abstract

Mercury is a chemical element that has been known since prehistoric times and has been used over time as a component of paints, in the treatment of various diseases, and later in various industrial compounds. Mercury enters the body transcutaneously, by inhaling or by ingesting food contaminated with mercury. The most common cause of mercury poisoning is eating seafood, but people can get mercury poisoning from industrial processing, thermometers, dental work, and old paints. The most vulnerable are people at occupational risk due to chronic exposure, as well as fetuses in the intrauterine period. Mercury poisoning produces extremely serious effects on the nervous, renal, and gastrointestinal systems. The nature and extent of mercury poisoning depend on factors such as the route of exposure, the rate of exposure, the distribution and biotransformation of mercury in the body, the chemical form of mercury or the mercury compound. Both mercury in the blood and the urine should not exceed 10 μg/L. The critical values of mercury in the blood are >150 μg/L and the lethal ones exceed 800 μg/L. New diagnostic methods allow the rapid and accurate identification of the concentration of mercury in biological products. Treatment is based on the use of chelating agents. However, the prognosis of mercury poisoning is extremely variable, due to the potentially irreversible nature of the lesions.

The Toxicity of Mercury and Its Chemical Compounds: Molecular Mechanisms and Environmental and Human Health Implications: A Comprehensive Review

“…Hg 0 (metallic), Hg 2 2+ (mercurous), and Hg 2+ (mercuric) mercury are the three states of inorganic mercury. Mercury’s pharmacokinetics and biotransformation are determined by its chemical and physical state …”

“…These instances are potentiated to promote unexpected and nongenetical cancers. It has been reported that Hg 2+ with thiol-compounds can form mercaptans and reduce the thiol-based antioxidants in cells, which is considered a potential step to induce cancer . A case study in Poland revealed the occurrence of leukemia among a group of farmers who used mercury-containing fungicides in their farmlands .…”

“…In this context, Hg 2+ helps to inhibit gap junctional intercellular communications and causes immunosuppressive effects. Mercury also mediates an upstream alteration of intracellular redox by specifically inhibiting antioxidant enzymes containing selenocysteines . Such an inhibition of cell communication can contribute to uncontrolled cell growth and proliferation, which are the main hallmarks of cancer development.…”

“…Mercury’s pharmacokinetics and biotransformation are determined by its chemical and physical state. 30 …”

“…It has been reported that Hg 2+ with thiol-compounds can form mercaptans and reduce the thiol-based antioxidants in cells, which is considered a potential step to induce cancer. 30 A case study in Poland revealed the occurrence of leukemia among a group of farmers who used mercury-containing fungicides in their farmlands. 134 The study indicated that the concentration of total mercury in the hair of those farmers was 1.24 mg/kg, compared to just 0.49 mg/kg in the hair of healthy individuals.…”