Mercury Exposure

Mercury Danger

Mercury is a naturally occurring element that occurs in three forms---inorganic salts, as a metallic element, and organic compounds. Thimerosal contains the organic compound form of mercury. The level of toxicity from mercury exposure is dependent on many variables, including the type of mercury involved, how much of the substance enters the body, how it enters the body, and how old the individual is when they are exposed. All of us are exposed to extremely small amounts of mercury whether we like it or not. The most common ways that we come into contact with mercury is through consumption of certain fish that we eat, as well as mercury contained in silver dental fillings (silver fillings are being used less and less). Though mercury exposure from these is low and should not pose a health risk, overexposure should certainly cause concern.

Organic mercury expresses its toxicity principally in the central nervous system. It may also affect important organs such as the kidneys, and systems such as the immune system. One example of mercury’s dangerous effects is if a pregnant woman consumes fish or seed grain that is highly contaminated with mercury. Fetuses have been known to develop serious developmental and neurological problems in response to this. The reason is that the brain and body of fetuses, infants and small children are developing rapidly and are more susceptible to toxicity than is the adult brain.

Organic mercury compounds can be absorbed either when they are ingested orally or come into contact with the skin. When inside the body, methyl mercury spread to all the tissues of the body but seems to concentrate in the blood and in the brain.

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Limits on Mercury Exposure

The government and several of its agencies have been trying to reduce the amount of mercury that individuals have exposure to. Agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) have set guidelines as to what is the maximum allowable exposure to mercury that is still considered safe. Maximum recommended daily exposures vary from 0.1 to 0.4 micrograms of mercury per kilogram per day. (The variation of allowable mercury differs according to the different studies, calculations, extrapolations, etc. of each of the agencies who performed them.) The daily allowable intake was determined by analyzing blood and/or hair concentrations of mercury in pregnant women who had accidentally been exposed to high levels of methyl mercury.

The overall aim of the mercury levels is primarily aimed at women who may be pregnant and may pass the mercury on to their fetuses. As stated before, mercury is much more toxic for the developing brains of fetuses, infants, and children under the age of six months. There has been recent data that indicates that in utero exposure to mercury levels once thought to be safe may also have slight adverse effects on the developing brain.

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