Iron Deficiency & Mercury Poisoning

Minerals, the inorganic elements found in food, support the structure and function of every living cell. Minerals regulate body fluid levels, transmit electrical impulses, support the formation of new cells, build strong bones and activate enzymes needed for the biochemical reactions. Although the earth contains hundreds of elements, not all of them support life. Your body cannot function without iron, one of the most abundant metals on earth, but does not need any mercury.

Iron

Iron supports a healthy immune system and is incorporated into many different proteins and enzymes. Hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells, contains approximately two-thirds of all iron in the body, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Hemoglobin carries the oxygen in the blood and delivers it to cells. An iron deficiency inhibits the production of hemoglobin, which reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Mercury

Mercury, another metallic element, is used in a variety of industries. As a non-essential element, mercury in the human body can cause symptoms of poisoning. You can become exposed to mercury through spills, but the most common cause of mercury exposure is the consumption of contaminated fish. Mercury from the environment gets into the ocean and sea life transforms it into organic mercury known as methylmercury. Certain types of fish can absorb the mercury from the water and store it. The highest levels of mercury are found in larger species of fish including kind mackerel, marlin, shark, swordfish, bluefin tuna and yellowfin tuna.

Levels

The Institute of Medicine sets the daily recommended intake for iron as 8mg per day for men and post-menopausal women. Due to the loss of blood during monthly menstruation, women between the ages of 18 and 50 should consume 18mg of iron per day. Failing to consistently consume adequate amounts of iron causes a condition known as iron deficiency anemia--the number one nutritional deficiency in the world as of 2011, according to the World Health Organization. In contrast, your body should not contain any mercury, so any amount of mercury indicates a mercury exposure. When mercury exposure causes symptoms, the condition becomes mercury poisoning.

Symptoms

Iron deficiency anemia and mercury poisoning share many of the same symptoms. Iron deficiency anemia causes fatigue, due to the decrease in the amount of oxygen in the blood. Fatigue, an overwhelming sensation of tiredness that fails to resolve with rest, causes your body to feel weak. Mercury affects your central nervous system and causes muscle weakness. Iron deficiency causes a sensation of coldness in the hands and feet while mercury poisoning causes a tingling sensation in the hands and feet. During an iron deficiency, the lack of oxygen flowing to the brain causes cognitive symptoms like behavioral problems and mood swings. Mercury poisoning also affects cognitive functions like mood swings and impaired sensations including vision and speech.