Improved Chronic Fatigue Symptoms after Removal of Mercury in Patient with Increased Mercury Concentration in Hair Toxic Mineral Assay: A Case

Abstract

Clinical manifestations of chronic exposure to organic mercury usually have a gradual onset. As the primary target is the nervous system, chronic mercury exposure can cause symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, headache, and poor recall and concentration. In severe cases chronic exposure leads to intellectual deterioration and neurologic abnormality. Recent outbreaks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and pathogenic avian influenza have increased fish consumption in Korea. Methyl-mercury, a type of organic mercury, is present in higher than normal ranges in the general Korean population. When we examine a patient with chronic fatigue, we assess his/her methyl-mercury concentrations in the body if environmental exposure such as excessive fish consumption is suspected. In the current case, we learned the patient had consumed many slices of raw tuna and was initially diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Therefore, we suspected that he was exposured to methyl-mercury and that the mercury concentration in his hair would be below the poisoning level identified by World Health Organization but above the normal range according to hair toxic mineral assay. Our patient's toxic chronic fatigue symptoms improved after he was given mercury removal therapy, indicating that he was correctly diagnosed with chronic exposure to organic mercury.

Cut-Off Values of Blood Mercury Concentration in Relation to Increased Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference in Koreans

“…Other studies have also shown that higher urine mercury concentrations are associated with serum cholesterol concentration and cardiovascular disease 26 27. Hair sampled mercury concentrations were found to affect cardiac autonomic activity 28 29. In this study, subjects who had blood mercury concentration around 3.95 μg/L and 3.40 μg/L showed significantly higher BMI and waist circumference in males and females after adjusting for relevant confounders.…”

Synthesis of covalently bonded graphene oxide–iron magnetic nanoparticles and the kinetics of mercury removal

“…1,4,5 A vivid example of mercury poisoning was seen in the Minamata incidence in the 1950s in Japan.…”

The associations between blood mercury levels and shark meat intake among workers in Gyeongsangbuk-do

“…If these workers are exposed to several dietary sources of mercury like fish or shellfish, mercury levels in their bodies could increase substantially leading to more intense health consequences [ 3 ]. Meanwhile, previous studies have mainly focused on the health effects due to acute mercury exposure and the occupational mercury sources among workers [ 6 – 8 ]. However, considering the effects of dietary sources on mercury levels, detailed information on dietary sources is needed during the health examinations, particularly, among the workers in Gyeongsangbuk-do, who are likely to consume a lot of shark meat.…”

“…Previous studies have focused on the health effects due to acute mercury exposures [ 6 – 8 ]. Recently, concerns on the effects of chronic, low-dose mercury exposure on health have increased.…”