Mercury occurs naturally in the environment. High methyl mercury levels occur in polluted water. Fish absorb methyl mercury from the water and from feeding on aquatic organisms. Mercury can become highly concentrated in the flesh of certain fish. Large predator fish acquire high methyl mercury levels from their prey. Cooking the fish does not adequately reduce the methyl mercury content. The metal amalgam used in dental fillings provides another source for mercury.
A person with mercury poisoning has high levels of mercury plus symptoms of toxicity, such as impairment in kidney function, memory and coordination. Drugs that bind, or chelate mercury remedy mercury poisoning.
Remedies For Mercury Poisoning
It takes a high index of suspicion to diagnose mercury poisoning, meaning the physician has to put symptoms of toxicity together with history of exposure to mercury. According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," mercury levels greater than 3.6 mcg/dL in the blood and 15 mcg/dL in urine indicate toxicity.
The remedy used to treat mercury poisoning depends on the form of mercury, which can be either vapor, inorganic, or organic; the dose; and the duration of exposure. Acute inhalation of mercury vapor may require emergency respiratory support.
To remedy mercury poisoning, remove the person from the source of mercury, including shellfish, if that is determined to be the cause, as it was for the actor Jeremy Piven, as stated in "Scientific American."
Bacteria in the environment convert inorganic mercury to organic mercury, the form found in fish. Mild mercury exposure from fish consumption during pregnancy causes neurobehavioral declines in offspring. According to Americanpregnancy.org, fish that pregnant women should avoid eating include shark, king mackerel, swordfish and tilefish.
Dimercaprol
According to emedicinehealth.com, the most commonly used chelating agent Dimercaprol, also called BAL in oil. BAL stands for British Anti-Lewisite, an antidote to the chemical warfare agent Lewisite during WW II. Dimercaprol binds mercury in the blood, making it more water-soluble and capable of elimination by the kidneys. According to the package insert, use deep intramuscular injection only. Dimercaprol injection effectively counters acute poisoning by mercury salts, if therapy begins within one or two hours following ingestion. Use 5 mg/kg initially, followed by 2.5 mg/kg one or two times daily for ten days. It does not work not very in chronic mercury poisoning cases.
Other Chelators
Two common chelation treatments include: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, or EDTA, and dimercaptosuccinic acid, or DMSA. These intravenous drugs have FDA approval for the removal of toxic metals.
N-acetyl penicillamine treats chronic inorganic mercury poisoning.
References
- American Pregnancy.org: Mercury Levels in Fish
- emedicinehealth.com: Mercury Poisoning
- Scientic American.com: What is Mercury Poisoning?
- Drugs.com
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Dennis Kasper, M.D.; 2005
