The renal system, consisting of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra, can be adversely affected by mercury. Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that can be found in a variety of forms, both as a liquid and a gas. It can be found in the food chain in fish, in dental amalgams and in a variety of chemical processes. It can have adverse effects on unborn fetuses, can affect the central nervous system and causes a variety of symptoms and diseases besides the adverse effects it can have on the kidneys.
Kidney Tumors
High doses of mercuric chloride and methylmercury have been found to cause several varieties of tumors in rats and mice. The United States Environmental Protection Agency reports that the adverse effects on kidneys occurred when very high doses of mercury exposure occurred. Other effects on the central nervous system were experienced by test rodents before the tumors, so it is thought that the kidney tumors would be among the last effects that humans would suffer from mercury poisoning. No adequate human testing has been done to find out if mercury exposure can cause cancer in the human renal system as of 2010.
Enzymuria
One of the effects of mercury poisoning on the kidneys is enzymuria, which is presence of enzymes to a high enough level to produce tubular tissue damage. According to Environmental Health Perspectives, mercury tends to collect in higher concentrations in the kidneys than in other bodily organs. Certain proteins are reabsorbed less effectively due to the presence of mercury. Lysosomal enzymes, which help the digestive process are excreted at higher levels than normal.
Renal Failure
Renal failure can occur at high levels of mercury poisoning. Mercury Safety states that acute high doses of mercury can cause renal failure, one of the well known symptoms of mercury poisoning. A low level of chronic mercury exposure that is continued long enough can also precipitate renal failure.
