Contents:
- Medical Video: Dangers Of Mercury Poisoning | Well.org
- What is mercury?
- The risk of danger of mercury that disrupts health
- Danger of mercury by type
- 1. Elemental mercury (Hg)
- 2. Inorganic mercury
- 3. Organic mercury
Medical Video: Dangers Of Mercury Poisoning | Well.org
You must be familiar with chemical compounds known as mercury. If you hear mercury, surely you immediately cross with the negative effects or dangers caused by this compound. Actually, what is mercury? And what is the danger of mercury for your body's health? Check out the reviews.
What is mercury?
Mercury or also called mercury (Hg) is one type of metal that is found in nature and spread in rocks, mine seeds, soil, water and air as inorganic and organic compounds.
Mercury in the soil, water and air is relatively low. Various types of human activities that can increase mercury levels are high, for example mining activities that can produce as much as 10,000 tons of mercury per year.
Workers who experience contact with mercury can suffer from various types of dangerous diseases.
Mercury is very popular in the skin whitening products because of its ability to inhibit the formation of melanin so that the skin looks brighter in a short time. Though behind that, mercury is actually very dangerous and you should be aware of these products.
The risk of danger of mercury that disrupts health
The use of mercury in cosmetics has proven to be dangerous and is prohibited in various countries. Not only for exposed skin, these chemicals will easily be absorbed by the skin and enter the bloodstream.
Mercury is corrosive to the skin. This means applying mercury to the skin will make the skin layer thinner. High exposure to mercury can be damage to the digestive tract, nervous system, and kidneys.
In addition, mercury also risks disrupting various organs of the body, such as the brain, heart, kidney, lungs, and immune system.
Mercury will not only affect adults. Babies and children are groups that also do not escape the risk of mercury exposure and its side effects.
When children come into contact with parents who use products made from mercury, it is possible that the substance can enter the body when the child sucks on his finger.
In particular, mercury poisoning in children is called infantile acrodynia. This can be identified by the appearance of symptoms of pain and pink on the hands and feet.
Danger of mercury by type
Mercury itself has three types of mercury which are equally harmful to health, namely elemental mercury (Hg), inorganic mercury, and organic mercury. What are the differences and dangers of these three types of mercury? Check out the reviews.
1. Elemental mercury (Hg)
Inhaled mercury vapors most often cause poisoning, while ingested mercury elements do not cause toxic effects because of their low absorption, unless you have a fistula or abnormal gastrointestinal disease, or if the mercury is stored for a long time in the canal gastrointestinal.
Mercury that enters the body through blood vessels can cause pulmonary embolism (blockage of pulmonary arteries by free-released plaque).
Because it is fat soluble, elemental mercury is easily entered through the blood brain barrier and placenta. In the brain, mercury will accumulate in the cerebral cortex (cerebrum) and cerebellum (cerebellum) so that it interferes with enzyme function and cell transport.
Metal heating of mercury forms mercury oxide vapor which is corrosive to the skin, mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth, and respiratory tract.
2. Inorganic mercury
This mercury is often absorbed through the digestive tract, lungs, and skin. High levels of short-term inorganic mercury exposure can cause kidney failure. While long-term exposure to low doses can cause proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome, and nephropathy associated with impaired immune systems.
3. Organic mercury
Especially in the form of alkyl short chains, methyl mercury can cause neuronal degeneration in the brain and result in numbness in the ends of the hands or feet, ataxia (irregular movements), joint pain, deafness, and narrowing of visibility. Methyl mercury can easily enter through the placenta and accumulate in the fetus which results in the death of the womb and cerebral palsy.
