

Take note of the things in your environment that could expose you to mercury.

How Do You Reduce Your Exposure to Mercury? As these drugs do their work, your body eliminates the mercury. During chelation therapy, compounds that are designed to bind to the mercury are inserted into your bloodstream. Regardless of what kind of mercury you were exposed to, you will probably be treated with chelation therapy. If it’s likely that your symptoms point to mercury poisoning, your doctor may decide to move on with treatment.

People who are exposed to mercury for extended periods of time may also experience more serious effects of exposure. Pregnant people who consume fish and shellfish risk exposing their babies to mercury, which can affect their development. However, the form of mercury used in vaccines is quickly broken down by the body and doesn't pose a health risk.īabies in the womb are more susceptible to mercury exposure. Some people worry about mercury exposure from vaccines. You probably won’t get mercury poisoning if you’re briefly exposed or if you come into contact with a harmless form of the metal. Working at a landfill, with mercury thermometers, or in a workplace with broken fluorescent and low-energy bulbs puts you at higher risk of mercury poisoning. Nevertheless, there’s still a risk of ingesting harmful elemental mercury vapor. Modern-day dental fillings have a low level of mercury that is safe for many people. Tuna, swordfish, and sharks are examples of fish that tend to be high in mercury.ĭental fillings. The small fish are eaten by bigger fish, and eventually, the predators at the top of the food chain end up with a lot of mercury in their tissues. When elemental mercury makes its way into water sources, it’s consumed by small fish. The most common ways you might be exposed to mercury are through:įish.
#Mercury poisoning symptoms skin
Mercury can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin or eyes, or ingested. On the other hand, mercury salts are less soluble and don’t have a noticeable effect. For example, methyl mercury is quickly absorbed by the gut and takes root in many of your body’s tissues. However, depending on what form it's in, mercury can be harmful or non-threatening. Mercury is a toxic metal and has caused several large public health crises throughout the world, including in Japan and Iraq. You can be exposed to mercury in a number of ways, and it can be extremely dangerous to your health. Mercury poisoning happens as a result of too much exposure to mercury. Mercury is a heavy metal that's commonly found in the natural world.
