Mercury poisoning is possible in modern realities if the family unit of society earns and feeds on fishing, since it is a natural element found in fish and shellfish. Industrial pollution of natural water sources can also cause poisoning. One can also get a highly hazardous dose of mercury directly in the workplace. Finally, up to 2 grams of mercury is contained in old-fashioned glass thermometers.
Direct contact of the human body with mercury is already potentially highly toxic. If a person inhales air containing no more than 0.25mg / m³ of mercury vapor, the chemical element is retained in the lungs. If the content of the element is higher, the poisoning passes directly through clean skin. The degree of poisoning is determined by analyzing the amount of compound in the blood and hair (Branco et al., 2017). Mercury poisoning is extremely painful for humans, including the possibility of death after a week of severe damage to the digestive and nervous system.
There are different forms of mercury: elemental, also known as metallic, inorganic, resulting from harmful industrial production. The third type is organic methylmercury, found in some shellfish and fish. Ethylmercury is significantly less toxic, has a different effect on the body, and is even used as a preservative in the manufacture of vaccines.
Knowledge of the toxicity of this compound is fundamentally important for caution in industrial work that exposes a high risk of poisoning and requires the utmost adherence to safety precautions. Any household appliance that contains mercury must be disposed of with careful, instructed disposal. It is necessary to be aware of all the harm of this substance and to imagine all the grave consequences of poisoning both for oneself and for others.
Reference
Branco, V., et al. (2017). Biomarkers of mercury toxicity: Past, present, and future trends. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B, 20(3), 119-154. Web.