Acute Mercury Poisoning in a Group of School Children

Studies on the toxic effects of acute mercuric chloride poisoning in mice: primary toxicity evaluation analysis of HgCl2

The aim of this study was to explore the acute damage caused by acute mercuric chloride poisoning to mice. The mice model of acute mercury (HgCl2) poisoning was prepared by gavage and intraperitoneal injection, respectively. The experimental results showed that the LD50 was about 24 mg/kg for gavage and 4 mg/kg for intraperitoneal injection. On the basis of gavage, there were differences in the time required for water maze and righting reflex tests between groups of mice gavaged with different doses of HgCl2 (p < 0.05); The levels of SOD, MDA, GSH-PX, CRE, BUN, AST and ALT in mice were different from those in the control (Normal saline) group (p < 0.05); The degree of inflammation response under microscope was different in different dose groups after HE staining of liver tissues, and there were differences in the degree of intimal thickening and lumen stenosis in different dose groups after HE staining of kidney tissue; The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) measured the levels of mercury in mice increased with increasing mercuric chloride concentration, with the accumulation in kidney much higher than that in liver. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that the damage caused by mercuric chloride to memory, oxidative stress, liver and kidney tissues in mice starts from 4 mg/kg, and the mortality rate of mice reached 100% when the gavage dose was greater than or equal to 32 mg/kg, and the intraperitoneal injection of mercuric chloride produced faster and stronger toxic effects than gavage.

Mercury poisoning in women and infants inhabiting the Gangetic plains of Bihar: risk assessment

Mercury is a persistent, bio-accumulative, and hazardous contaminant. When released into the environment, it accumulates in water sediments, converting it to poisonous methylmercury that enters the food chain. The present study was carried out in habitations from the 11 districts of Bihar (India). In the study, n = 224 lactating women and their infants n = 172 infants participated. After obtaining the written informed consent, their breast milk, urine, and blood were collected for mercury estimation. The breastmilk content was measured in n = 181 subjects, in which 74% women had their breastmilk higher than the WHO permissible limit (< 1.7 μg/L), while 26% of the women had their breast milk below the permissible limit. The blood mercury content showed that 19% subjects had mercury content above the permissible limit [20 μg/L]. In urine mercury estimation, 49% women had mercury content above the permissible limit [10 μg/L], while, 51% women had the mercury content below the permissible limit. In the child's urine, 54% infants had their mercury content in urine above the permissible limit [10 μg/L] while 46% infants had content below the permissible limit. The study indicates that 20% of infants had the complete accumulation of mercury in their body which is highly toxic for them. However, the mercury content in the food (wheat) had the contamination with in the permissible limit [100 μg/kg]. There was a significant correlation found between the breastmilk and child's urine and mother's urine. The HQ study also correlates the mercury poisoning effect with 100% of the mother's and 66% of the infants exceeding the limit of non-carcinogenic risk. The Monte Carlo and multivariate study correlates the high health risk in the studied population due to mercury poisoning. The entire study concludes that population inhabitation in the Gangetic plains of Bihar are exposed to mercury poisoning which may be due to geogenic or anthropogenic sources. But, the levels of mercury contamination above the permissible limit could lead to neurogenerative changes in the lactating mothers and their infants. To control the present problem medical intervention is immediately required.

Mercury and Mercury-Containing Preparations: History of Use, Clinical Applications, Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacokinetics in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Historically, mercury and mercury-containing preparations have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and applied in many clinical practices mainly in the form of mercury sulfides. The clinical application, toxicity manifestations, and symptoms of these preparations largely depend on the route of administration and the dosage form. Commonly used mercury-containing medicinal materials and preparations in traditional Chinese medicine include Cinnabar, an excellent medicine for tranquilizing the nerves; Hongsheng Dan and Baijiang Dan, which have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, promotion of tissue repair and regeneration and other pharmacological effects. Tibetan medicine commonly uses Zaotai and Qishiwei Zhenzhu pills, which have pharmacological effects such as sedation, anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsant, and improvement of cerebral apoplexy. Menggen Wusu Shibawei pills, commonly used in Mongolian traditional medicine, have the muscle growth and astringent effects. In India and Europe, mercury is often used for treating syphilis. This article summarizes the history, clinical application, pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics of mercury and mercury-containing preparations in traditional medicines. In terms of clinical application, it provides suggestions for the rational use and safety of mercury-containing drugs in clinical practices and in public health issues. It will further provide a reference for formulation strategies related to mercury risk assessment and management.

Characteristics and treatment of elemental mercury intoxication: A case series

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Elemental mercury toxicity is a rare condition which can be difficult to diagnose due to its nonspecific signs and symptoms. The purpose of this investigation is to describe the presenting characteristics and treatment of adult and pediatric patients with elemental mercury poisoning.

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed in six patients with elemental mercury exposure or intoxication who were treated in an outpatient medical toxicology clinic. Clinical signs and symptoms, laboratory assessments, and public health responses were reviewed.

RESULTS

Headache, anorexia, rash, and personality changes were commonly reported symptoms in pediatric patients; the adult patients were asymptomatic or reported signs and symptoms included myalgias, tremors, and hypertension. Delays in diagnosis were common. Symptomatic patients had 24-hour urine mercury concentrations greater than 20 mcg/L. Treatment, including removal from the exposure source as well as chelation with dimercaptosuccinic acid, resulted in resolution of signs and symptoms within 6 months of diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

The evaluation and treatment of patients with suspected elemental mercury poisoning frequently require a multidisciplinary approach including medical toxicologists and public health officials. A heightened awareness of the clinical presentations of this condition, as well as early identification and removal of patients from the source of exposure and consideration of chelation therapy, can result in accelerated patient recovery.

Blood Mercury Levels in Children with Kawasaki Disease and Disease Outcome

The risk of ethnic Kawasaki disease (KD) has been proposed to be associated with blood mercury levels in American children. We investigated the blood levels of mercury in children with KD and their association with disease outcome. The mercury levels demonstrated a significantly negative correlation with sodium levels (p = 0.007). However, data failed to reach a significant difference after excluding the child with blood mercury exceeding the toxic value. The findings indicate that KD patients with lower sodium concentrations had a remarkably higher proportion of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance (p = 0.022). Our patients who had lower mercury levels (<0.5 μg/L) had more changes in bacille Calmette-Guerin. Mercury levels in 14/14 patients with coronary artery lesions and 4/4 patients with IVIG resistance were all measured to have values greater than 1 μg/L (while average values showed 0.92 μg/L in Asian American children). Mercury levels had no correlations with IVIG resistance or coronary artery lesion (CAL) formation (p > 0.05). CAL development was more common in the incomplete group than in the complete KD group (p = 0.019). In this first report about mercury levels in KD patients, we observed that the juvenile Taiwanese had higher mercury concentration in blood compared to other populations.