Mercury poisoning is a serious medical condition that can have serious health consequences. You can find out exactly what mercury is all about and how to avoid poisoning here.
Mercury poisoning: how dangerous is it really?
Mercury is a substance that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust. It is released by volcanic eruptions, forest fires or other natural disasters and thus gets into the atmosphere. The largest and most dangerous sources of mercury are not of natural origin, however man-made.
This is how mercury is created, for example, when burning coal. But also companies that natural gas mining or producing iron and other metals release it. As a result, air, water and soil have a high mercury content, which according to a Greenpeace report from the year 2015 rises continuously.
Once the mercury is released, it can penetrate into the earth’s atmosphere. Here air currents distribute the substance until it finally gets back to the surface of the earth and into soil, water and finally our food chain.
Greenpeace refers to mercury as one of the three most harmful substances with which people come into contact in everyday life. The degree of toxicity depends on the type of mercury. Elemental mercury and methyl mercury are particularly toxic. These substances can cause mercury poisoning, which according to the medical platform Onmeda by death can lead.
Where’s mercury in?
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Mercury is found in many foods, including others Grain, flesh, Fruits, vegetables and Nuts. However, the values ​​in these foods are very low and are not considered to be health-threatening. Fish is a problem. Particularly long-lived predatory fish such as tuna, pike or shark, which have already eaten many other fish, are heavily contaminated with methylmercury.
According to Onmeda, mercury is found in many other everyday objects, such as in :
- Batteries
- Medicines
- Measuring devices
- Lamps
- Cosmetic products
- electrical switches
A particularly popular source of mercury are also Fillings. These are made from mercury alloys. In many countries there are certain guidelines for the mercury content. However, the danger is that we are confronted with various sources of mercury all day long and therefore repeatedly take in many small amounts.
Even if these quantities appear harmless in isolation, they can accumulate in the organism and cause mercury poisoning. In addition, other potentially toxic substances that we ingested can increase the toxicity of the mercury.
Mercury poisoning: symptoms and consequences
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With mercury poisoning, one differentiates between one acute and chronic poisoning. With acute poisoning, you take a dangerously high amount of mercury in a short period of time. However, if you continuously ingest an increased dose of mercury over several years, this is called chronic poisoning. This is only noticeable slowly and insidiously.
This form of poisoning includes Minamata disease, a disease that occurred in Japan in the 1950s. In the area surrounding the city of Minamata, uncontrolled waste was disposed of in water. The environment was so heavily contaminated with mercury that humans and animals suffered severe damage to the central nervous system. The consequences were paralysis, psychosis and coma. The disease was often fatal.
In addition to the nervous system, mercury can also damage the immune and digestive systems, thereby stopping vital processes in the body. According to Onmeda, symptoms and consequences of chronic poisoning include:
- Tremble
- cramps
- excitement
- Sensation such as tingling or burning on the skin
Greenpeace also reports the following symptoms:
- Poor concentration
- Drive failures
- Loss of logical thinking
- Anxiety
- depressions
- Memory loss
Mercury poisoning in pregnant women can endanger the health of your unborn child, Onmeda warns.
This is how you avoid mercury poisoning
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To prevent mercury poisoning, you should note the following:
- Eat fish in moderation. Predatory fish in particular often contain high levels of mercury. Therefore, especially pregnant women should exercise caution and not consume sea fish several times a week.
- Old thermometers and energy-saving lamps were sometimes made from mercury. If the objects break, liquid mercury quickly escapes. In this case, avoid all skin contact and remove it e.g. with the help of tight gloves. Make sure to dispose of the mercury properly and then ventilate the apartment well.
- Medicines or cosmetics that come from abroad and have not been checked sometimes do not comply with European guidelines and may contain a higher proportion of mercury. So buy these products not from questionable sources, but inform yourself exactly about the place of manufacture, ingredients and any seals and certificates.
Note: Small children in particular can swallow mercury (e.g. from thermometers, plugs, lamps, etc.). In this case, you should get medical help immediately.
Read more on Techzle.com:
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- 5 arguments against fish
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