![]() Some people who drink water containing inorganic mercury substantially in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) maximum contaminant level (MCL)The highest level of a contaminant that EPA allows in drinking water. Symptoms of high exposures to inorganic mercury include: Both inorganic and organic mercury are absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and affect other systems through this route. Most kinds of fish are good sources of protein, vitamins, and minerals, says Khubchandani, and the nutritional benefits outweigh the risks.High exposure to inorganic mercury may result in damage to the gastrointestinal tract, the nervous system, and the kidneys. The good news: you don’t need to avoid fish or give up your sushi habit entirely. They can perform simple blood tests to determine your mercury levels. Since the symptoms above are all fairly non-specific symptoms, check in with your primary-care physician if you’re concerned, and tell them what you’ve been eating, Mysore says. How can I lower my risk of mercury poisoning? Organ failure: In severe cases, elemental mercury poisoning may result in systemic organ failure, which can lead to death, Khubchandani notes. Oral issues: If inhaled or swallowed, elemental mercury can cause a metallic taste in the mouth or swollen, bleeding gums.ħ. Blindness and double vision are also possible.Ħ. Neurological symptoms: Exposure to elemental mercury (again, by inhaling the vapor, not eating fish), can affect brain and nervous system function, causing headaches, insomnia, dizziness, and poor cognitive function, says Khubchandani. Shortness of breath: Because of toxicity in the lungs, you may experience shortness of breath or trouble breathing, Mysore says.ĥ. Impaired motor skills: This can include tremors (uncontrollable shaking), lack of coordination or inability to walk, muscle weakness, and numbness or “pins and needles” sensations, Khubchandani says.Ĥ. Cognitive issues: People with high levels of mercury may experience trouble thinking and memory problems-and they may be more irritable, Mysore says.ģ. This can lead to problems with behavior, cognition, attention span, and motor activity later in life.Ģ. (More on that below.) Even though the mother may not experience symptoms of toxicity, her baby may have brain damage due to high exposure to mercury, Khubchandani says. Developmental delays in babies: Methylmercury is particularly harmful to fetuses, Mysore says, which is why pregnant women need to be cautious about what types of fish they eat. The mercury poisoning symptoms you should know aboutġ. This can be the result of low-grade yet chronic exposure to methylmercury in fish, which can build up over time and cause some serious health issues, Mysore says. Okay, but how common is mercury poisoning?Īcute cases are rare, but mercury toxicity isn't exactly unheard of: It’s estimated that high levels of mercury in blood can be found in 5 to 10 percent of Americans, says Khubchandani. Those whose work includes coal mining or working in a factory that manufactures products containing mercury (i.e., thermometers, barometers, dental fillings), but the majority of people aren’t at risk of that type of exposure, Mysore says. ![]() This Man Got A Massive Tapeworm From Eating SushiĪnother less common source of exposure is to elemental mercury, which occurs through inhaling vaporized mercury, not eating fish.Generally, larger fish-like shark and swordfish-are higher in mercury, because they live longer and are higher on the food chain, says Jagdish Khubchandani, Ph.D., a professor of community health at Ball State University. This is what’s found in certain kinds of fish and shellfish. The trouble arises when it is broken down by bacteria into methylmercury-the dangerous, dietary form of mercury. Mercury in its organic form isn't dangerous, she says. There are three forms of the metal: elemental, inorganic, and organic. quicksilver or Hg on the periodic table) is a heavy metal that’s naturally found in the earth’s crust, Mysore explains. Back up, what is mercury anyway?įor those of us who weren't chem majors, mercury (a.k.a. However, I learned that less-severe mercury toxicity is no joke, either-and it is important to know which types of fish can raise your risk. ![]() Turns out, I don’t need to be overly concerned about full-blown mercury poisoning from seafood, says Navya Mysore, M.D, a primary-care physician specializing in women’s health at One Medical.
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