MERCURY (Hg) TOXICOLOGY

Mercury poisoning
(hydrargyria or mercurialism)
 CLASSIFICATION (CLASSES)

Elementary mercury.
- has high vapour pressure
- Elementary Hg vapour is monoatomic
therefore distributed mostly to alveolar of
lungs on inhalation.
- water solubility 20ug/L.
 INORGANIC MERCURY (Hg1+ and
Hg2+)

The Hg2+ form is the more reactive active.

Readily forms complexes with organic ligands
e.g. sulphyhydryl groups.
Consequently, HgCl2 which is highly soluble in
water is very toxic, but HgCl is highly insoluble
and less toxic
 ORGANIC MERCURY
These are compounds in which Hg forms a
bond with one carbon atom.
The common compounds are methyl mercury,
CH3Hg+: ethyl mercury, C2H5Hg+: phenyl
mercury and alkoxyalkyl mercury diuretics.
These compounds form salts with inorganic
and organic acids, e.g. chlorides and acetates.
These compounds are lipid soluble and they
cross biological membranes
SOURCES OF MERCURY EXPOSURE

Mercuric salts, (mostly HgCl2 and perchloride)

Volatile diethyl and dimethyl mercury
compounds are used in the treatment of
seeds.
Mercuric cyanide, an irritant fungicide
Mercuric iodide.
 SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS TOXIC
EXPOSURE
In acute poisoning
- metallic taste,
- violent vomiting
- salivation develops on 2nd and 3rd day
- gums swell
- foul breath
- loosening of teeth
- renal lesions may occur
- oluguria with much albumin
- dehydration, thirst, collapse, twitching, minor convulsions
- followed by death after several days
 CHRONIC POISONING
Loss of appetite
Occasional vomiting and diarrhoea
Progressive cachexia and anaemia
Salivation foul gingivitis often with a bluish black
mercurial line.
Loosening of teeth and sometimes necrosis of jaw
Mercurial palsy, with tremor of tongue, face, arms and
legs, usually in this order called hatters shake.
Chronic nephritis due to elimination of mercury
through the kidney
 BLOOD LEVELS
NORMAL TOXIC EXPOSURE
URINE 20 ug/L 100 ug/L
BLOOD 15 ug/L 40 ug/L