Mercury is a heavy metal with common household, industrial and laboratory applications, and can be toxic in significant doses. Potential symptoms, according to the National Institutes of Health, include nausea, respiratory problems and even death. Robert James Flanagan and Alison L. Jones' book "Antidotes" states that chelation therapy is the leading method of toxicity treatment, but natural elimination may sometimes also be an acceptable treatment.
Types of Mercury
The National Institutes of Health indicates three types of toxic mercury: elemental mercury, inorganic mercury and organic mercury. Elemental mercury, found in older thermometers, is usually only harmful when small, airborne particles are inhaled. If enough is inhaled, immediate symptoms may include vomiting, labored breathing and a metallic taste in the mouth. Severe exposure can cause serious lung damage and death. Inorganic mercury, found in some batteries, can cause intestinal burning, vomiting and bloody diarrhea if ingested. Introduction to the bloodstream may cause kidney and brain damage or death. Organic mercury, found in the preservative thiomersal, usually only causes problems after repeated long-term exposure through ingestion, inhalation or direct contact. Symptoms include numbness, difficulty walking and memory issues. Single, highly concentrated exposures can cause seizures and death.
Mercury Toxicity Testing
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, laboratory tests must be conducted to confirm mercury toxicity levels before physicians can recommend treatment plans of chelation therapy or natural elimination. Doctors can test for elemental and inorganic mercury poisoning with samples of blood or urine, and can test for organic mercury toxicity with samples of blood or scalp hair.
Mercury Poisoning Source
A comprehensive treatment plan for mercury poisoning, regardless of treatment method, requires that the mercury source be identified. Pinpointing the source help ensure that the poisoning does not continue; for example, if a patient is constantly exposed to low levels of mercury at home, decontaminating or abandoning that environment is essential to treatment. The source and means of the poisoning can also weigh into a physician's decision of which treatment method to pursue, according to Flanagan and Jones, because some mercury types and routes of poisoning pose more immediate and severe risks than others. If poisoning occurs as the result of a conspicuous exposure to mercury, the source may be easy to determine. Pinpointing the source can be more difficult when a poisoning cannot be traced back to a specific event, but physicians can gather clues from toxicity tests, physical examinations and inspections of environments to which poisoned patients are exposed.
Chelation Therapy
According to the Mayo Clinic, chelation therapy for mercury requires a significant time investment; each treatment usually lasts several hours, and treatment plans consist of up to 30 treatments. A chelating agent is prescribed based on the specific type of mercury and the patient's medical background. Typically, the agent will be administered intravenously while the patient is seated or lying down. This is an outpatient procedure, but because it can reduce levels of important vitamins and minerals, patients are usually prescribed vitamins and nutritional supplements to take throughout treatment.
Natural Elimination
Flanagan and Jones state that chelation therapy is the appropriate treatment for patients whose toxicity tests indicate severe poisoning or who exhibit serious mercury poisoning symptoms. However, when measurable levels are low, symptoms are mild or undetectable and the source of the poisoning is known, natural elimination may be recommended by a doctor, according to Sidney M. Baker's book, "Detoxification & Healing." As long as the poisoning is not ongoing, mercury levels will decrease naturally with time, which can be monitored and verified with ongoing testing. To accelerate the detoxification process with natural ingredients, William Rassmussen's "Natural Mercury Detoxification" cites tactics like keeping a high-fiber diet, eating foods rich in antioxidants and taking a chlorella supplement.
References
- National Institutes of Health: Mercury
- "Antidotes;" Robert James Flanagan, Alison L. Jones; 2001
- Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry: ToxFAQs for Mercury
- Mayo Clinic: Chelation Therapy for Heart Disease
- "Detoxification & Healing;" Sidney M. Baker; 1998
