Mercury in the body symptoms of poisoning. Chronic mercury vapor poisoning

Probability of receiving mercury poisoning much higher than we might think. In fact, this can happen to anyone, because no one is immune from accidents. To do this, it is enough to handle the thermometer carelessly when measuring the temperature during a cold, or, for example, break it energy saving lamp. In this case, the amount of mercury vapor is enough to cause poisoning.

Mercury poisoning is considered one of the most dangerous:

Mercury is one of the most dangerous air pollutants in the apartment;
Mercury is highly hazardous due to the formation of toxic fumes;
Mercury has widespread V everyday life and in various industries, i.e. the likelihood of poisoning with this substance is significant.

Symptoms of mercury poisoning

Timely identification of symptoms will help you avoid harmful consequences for your health. After all, you may not know that there is mercury spilled in the room.

Deterioration of health with mercury poisoning appears after about 8 hours. The person in greatest danger is the one who broke a thermometer, lamp, etc., or the one who collected mercury.

If you feel weak throughout your body, have a severe headache, vomit, experience symptoms, or get tired quickly, you should immediately consult a doctor. In addition, signs of mercury poisoning may include manifestations such as feeling unwell, which can be confused with another cause or disease, and the thought of a mercury cause will not even arise.

Minor mercury poisoning.

This situation is typical for people who quickly leave the room after a thermometer or mercury lamp breaks. At good health a person will not feel mercury poisoning from a thermometer at all; in other cases, there are feelings of fatigue, sleepiness, migraines, and apathy. During the day, the discomfort stops.

Severe cases of mercury vapor poisoning.

This situation is possible when mercury vapor in production, or if you are not aware of the presence of mercury metal balls in the room.

With such poisoning, involuntary trembling of the hands is observed, the ability to perceive odors is impaired, tactile sensitivity is impaired, and a sharp decrease in blood pressure. A craving for sleep appears, urination becomes much more frequent than in in good condition, women may experience menstrual irregularities.

Consequences of mercury poisoning

If you do not consult a doctor in a timely manner, your health condition may worsen significantly.

Symptoms of mercury vapor poisoning often develop into chronic pathologies liver, problems with the activity of the gallbladder, hypertension, vascular atherosclerosis and even tuberculosis may occur.

In case of serious poisoning, the victim may fall into a coma.

Safety rules for mercury vapor poisoning

At the first sign of poisoning with this metal, you should immediately call ambulance. The victim needs to drink large number water. In case of any mercury poisoning, the appropriate regimen must be carefully followed. It is recommended to take it to remove toxins from the body. Polysorb is an enterosorbent indicated for acute poisoning with toxic substances. The powder has a large sorption capacity of ≥300 mg/g and begins to act within 1-4 minutes.

Moreover, you should start taking Polysorb as quickly as possible: in the first couple of hours after mercury poisoning. That is, than faster drug enters the gastrointestinal tract, so more he will be able to remove poisons, so that they do not have time to spread throughout the body, and the symptoms mercury poisoning will pass much faster.

Remember!

At treatment of vapor poisoning mercury, you should consult your doctor.

Even if you have the necessary medications, you will need professional supervision as mercury poisons can affect the functioning of many people. internal organs, and in addition to treating the consequences of poisoning, treatment of other organs, systems and tissues of the human body may be required. In addition, treatment of mercury poisoning in inpatient conditions proceeds much faster than at home.

How to prevent mercury poisoning from a thermometer?

Anyone can get mercury poisoning from a broken thermometer. But what to do in this case? How not to panic?

IN large group Children are at risk. Therefore, it is very important to explain to the child what broken thermometer they will not scold him, but this can be very dangerous to health, so you need to tell adults about it right away. Many children, fearing that a broken thermometer will cause negative reaction parents are just trying to hide their tracks.

So, if you or your loved ones broke a thermometer, to prevent mercury poisoning from the thermometer, you need to do the following:

remove all people and pets from the apartment to the street;
call the rescue service;
if it is not possible to call the Ministry of Emergency Situations, then you can collect the mercury yourself, but you must carefully observe safety precautions, namely, wear rubber gloves, shoe covers, and a protective mask.
mercury forms balls that are not easy to collect; to make the process easier, it is better to use tape or roll them onto a sheet of paper;
mercury must be placed in glass jar;
if mercury balls are found on carpeting, bedding and other fabrics, they must be placed in a bag and handed over to rescue service representatives to avoid mercury poisoning;
after removing mercury from the room, you need to clean it;
It is also worth inviting emergency workers to use special equipment to check whether the air contains mercury vapor.

And remember, even in the event of an unpleasant incident, you should remain calm. The main thing is to detect spilled mercury in a timely manner and contact specialists.

You can purchase Polysorb at any pharmacy in your city. For your convenience, you can use the service apteka.ru, which will deliver the drug to a conveniently located pharmacy.

Read also:

Application of Polysorb

Indications

Why Polysorb MP?

Safety

Polysorb MP does not contain any additives or flavorings, so the drug does not have any toxic effect and does not cause allergies. The drug is not absorbed into the blood and does not pass through the liver and kidneys, due to which it has virtually no contraindications. Enterosorbent Polysorb MP is highly safe and is prescribed to children from birth and pregnant women.

Efficiency

Sorption surface of Polysorb MP at internal use is 300 m2/g., which is significantly higher than most of those available in Russian and foreign market enterosorbents. The drug is capable of binding any harmful substances.

Instantaneity

During treatment, special role play in the first minutes of illness, when it is necessary to quickly provide assistance to the victim, relieve intoxication, improve general health. Here Polysorb MP comes to the rescue again, which, thanks to its unique spatial structure, begins to act immediately after entering the intestines and is able to radically change the situation in a matter of moments.

Operating principle

Harmful substances such as allergens, toxins and all kinds pathogenic bacteria provoke the development of diseases and a general deterioration in well-being;

Polysorb, entering the intestines, surrounds harmful bacteria and removes them from the body;

Polysorb absorbs toxins and allergens different sizes, which makes it possible to cope equally effectively with various poisonings and allergies;

Instructions

Directions for use and doses

Indications for use

Pharmacological action

Side effect and contraindications

Polysorb - dosage and method of application

Firstly, Polysorb is always taken in the form of an aqueous suspension, that is, the powder is mixed with 1/4 - 1/2 cup of water, and is never taken dry orally.

Secondly, the amount of powder to take depends on body weight, that is, you need to know approximate weight adult or child who will drink it. There cannot be an overdose, which eliminates concerns when determining the dose.

Patient weight	Dosage	Water volume
up to 10 kg	0.5-1.5 teaspoons per day	30-50 ml
11-20 kg	1 level teaspoon per serving	30-50 ml
21-30 kg	1 heaped teaspoon per serving	50-70 ml
31-40 kg	2 heaped teaspoons per serving	70-100 ml
41-60 kg	1 heaped tablespoon for 1 serving	100 ml
more than 60 kg	1-2 heaped tablespoons per serving	100-150 ml

Patient weight

The specific dosage of Polysorb is calculated depending on the indication for use (see below), the patient’s weight and symptoms. In case of difficulty with the calculation, you can receive free consultation by phone: 8-800-100-19-89 , or in the section .

1 heaped teaspoon of Polysorb contains 1 gram of the drug.
1 gram is the most recommended single pediatric dosage.
1 heaped tablespoon of Polysorb contains 2.5-3 grams of the drug.
3 grams is the average single adult dosage.

Way Applications of Polysorb for main indications

Disease	Directions for use	Reception features	Number of receptions	Duration
		During meals or immediately after	3 times a day	10-14 days
	Stir the powder depending on body weight in ¼-1/2 glass of water		3 times a day	10-14 days
	Washing stomach with 0.5-1% Polysorb solution ((2-4 tablespoons per 1 liter of water)	Next, take the Polysorb suspension orally depending on body weight	3 times a day	3-5 days
	Stir the powder depending on body weight in ¼-1/2 glass of water: 1 day - take every hour. Day 2 – dose four times a day.		3-4 times a day	5-7 days
	From the first days of illness Stir the powder depending on body weight in ¼-1/2 glass of water		3-4 times a day	7-10 days
	Stir the powder depending on body weight in ¼-1/2 glass of water		3 times a day	7-14 days
	Stir the powder depending on body weight in ¼-1/2 glass of water	Reception with complex treatment	3-4 times a day	25-30 days
	Stir the powder depending on body weight in ¼-1/2 glass of water	One hour before meals or one hour after meals	3 times a day	10-14 days
	Day 1 – take 5 times a day every hour. Day 2 – take 4 times a day every hour.	Drink more fluids	1 day – 5 times. Day 2 – 4 times.	2 days
	Take 1 dose: before the feast, before bed after the feast, in the morning.		1 time per day	3 days

Disease

Food allergies

Directions for use:
Reception features: During meals or immediately after
Number of receptions: 3 times a day
Duration: 10-14 days

Chronic allergies, urticaria, hay fever, atopy

Directions for use: Stir the powder depending on body weight in ¼-1/2 glass of water
Reception features: One hour before meals or one hour after meals
Number of receptions: 3 times a day
Duration: 10-14 days

Poisoning

Directions for use: Gastric lavage with 0.5-1% Polysorb solution (2-4 tablespoons per 1 liter of water)
Reception features: Next - oral administration of a suspension of Polysorb MP depending on body weight
Number of receptions: 3 times a day
Duration: 3-5 days

Intestinal infections

Directions for use: Stir the powder depending on body weight in ¼-1/2 glass of water: 1 day - take every hour. Day 2 – dose four times a day.
Reception features: Reception as part of complex treatment
Number of receptions: 3-4 times a day
Duration: 5-7 days

Viral hepatitis

Directions for use: From the first days of illness. Stir the powder depending on body weight in ¼-1/2 glass of water
Reception features: Reception as part of complex treatment
Number of receptions: 3-4 times a day
Duration: 7-10 days

Cleansing the body

Chronic renal failure

Directions for use: Stir the powder depending on body weight in ¼-1/2 glass of water
Reception features: Reception as part of complex treatment
Number of receptions: 3-4 times a day
Duration: 25-30 days

Toxicosis of pregnant women

Hangover

Directions for use: Day 1 – take 5 times a day every hour. Day 2 – take 4 times a day every hour.
Reception features: Drink more fluids
Number of receptions: 1 day – 5 times. Day 2 – 4 times.
Duration: 2 days

Polysorb is a modern sorbent with wide range action that binds harmful substances and removes them from the body. Polysorb is used for diseases such as,. Polysorb is also used to remove toxins and harmful substances. Approved for use from birth.

If you have difficulty calculating your individual dose drug Polysorb, you can getfree consultation by phone:8-800-100-19-89 , or in the sectionconsultation .

You can purchase Polysorb at any pharmacy in your city. For your convenience, you can use the serviceapteka.ru , which will deliver the drug to a conveniently located pharmacy.

Polysorb - powerful sorbent new generation based on natural silicon, effective for the treatment of diarrhea, poisoning, allergies, toxicosis, hangover syndrome and when cleansing the body.

Indications for use:

Acute and chronic intoxication of various origins in adults and children;

Acute intestinal infections of any origin, including foodborne diseases, as well as diarrheal syndrome of non-infectious origin, dysbacteriosis (as part of complex therapy);

Purulent-septic diseases accompanied by severe intoxication;

Acute poisoning with potent and toxic substances, including drugs and alcohol, alkaloids, salts of heavy metals, etc.;

Food and drug allergies;

Viral hepatitis and other jaundices (hyperbilirubinemia);

Chronic renal failure(hyperazotemia);

Residents of environmentally unfavorable regions and workers of hazardous industries, for the purpose of prevention.

What are the main advantages of Polysorb?

The highest sorption surface among sorbents is 300 m2/g.

High safety profile - 18 years of experience in using Polysorb in Russia.

Instant speed of action immediately after entering the gastrointestinal tract, relief occurs 2-4 minutes after administration.

Prescribed to children from birth, pregnant and lactating women, elderly and adults.

Get consultation or check out the nearest in your city.

Shelf life: 5 years. Do not use after expiration date.

Storage conditions: At a temperature not higher than 25°C. After opening the package, store in a tightly closed container. The shelf life of the aqueous suspension is no more than 48 hours. Keep out of the reach of children.

Conditions for dispensing from pharmacies: Without a prescription.

Telephone free hotline for consultations:8-800-100-19-89

Polysorb- inorganic non-selective polyfunctional enterosorbent based on highly dispersed silica with particle sizes up to 0.09 mm and chemical formula SiO2.

Polysorbhas pronounced sorption and detoxification properties. In the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract the drugbinds and removes from the body endogenous and exogenous toxic substances of different nature, including pathogenic bacteria and bacterial toxins, antigens, food allergens, medicines and poisons, salts of heavy metals, radionuclides, alcohol.

Polysorbalso absorbs some metabolic products of the body, incl. excess bilirubin, urea, cholesterol and lipid complexes, as well as metabolites responsible for the development of endogenous toxicosis.

Polysorb has pronounced sorption and detoxification properties. In the lumen gastrointestinal tract the drug binds and removes harmful toxic substances from the body, including pathogenic bacteria and bacterial toxins, antigens, food allergens, drugs and poisons, heavy metal salts, radionuclides, alcohol. Polysorb, like a magnet, also attracts some metabolic products of the body, including excess bilirubin, urea, cholesterol and lipid complexes, as well as metabolic products responsible for the development of endogenous toxicosis. The drug is not broken down, not absorbed, and is excreted unchanged.

Compared with the old generation sorbent activated carbon, powder Polysorb– new generation enterosorbent with high speed work - action within 2-4 minutes after administration (no time is required for the tablets to dissolve). 1 tablespoon of Polysorb powder replaces 120 tablets activated carbon in terms of the volume of its sorption surface, it envelops the gastrointestinal tract as thoroughly as possible and collects all harmful substances, accordingly, the quality of its work is much higher. In addition, drinking a small amount of powder with water is much more pleasant than swallowing dozens of tablets several times a day, which is why patients prefer an aqueous suspension of Polysorb. Over two decades, Polysorb has “settled” in every third family. Doctors know the drug well, thanks to its long experience of use in Russia and the CIS countries and the maximum qualities by which enterosorbent is evaluated.

Rarely - allergic reactions, dyspepsia, constipation. Long-term use of Polysorb for more than 14 days may impair the absorption of vitamins and calcium, and therefore prophylactic use is recommended. multivitamin preparations, calcium.

Interaction with other medications. Possible reduction therapeutic effect medications taken orally at the same time.

Contraindications: Polysorb 3 gram sachet Cans of 12, 25, 35, 50 grams

Bag3 grams – single dose in a convenient pocket package.
Jar:
12 grams- volume full course treatment for the child.
25 grams – necessary remedy V home medicine cabinet for any occasion for the whole family.
35 grams– a three-day course for the treatment of diarrhea in an adult.
50 grams– a complete course of treatment for adults in economical packaging.

Mercury poisoning occurs not only in industry, but also in everyday life. This metal or its salts contain mercury thermometers, fluorescent lamps, some medications.

Source: rybnoe.net

Mercury is a heavy metal, the peculiarity of which is that at ordinary room temperature it is not in a solid, but in a liquid aggregate state.

Mercury vapor and its compounds are dangerous, having a cumulative effect. Even small doses of these substances have a pronounced toxic effects to:

eyes;
skin;
lungs;
liver;
kidneys;
immune system;
nervous system;
digestive organs.

Inhalation of mercury vapor in the respiratory tract, its molecules are oxidized and then combine with the sulfhydryl group of proteins. The resulting substances enter the bloodstream and are carried throughout the body, causing damage. various organs.

Inorganic mercury compounds (salts) can enter the body through the skin or gastrointestinal tract. They have a pronounced irritant effect on the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, which leads to its inflammation and then ulceration. Mercury salts accumulate in:

skin;
intestines;
lungs;
spleen;
bone marrow;
red blood cells;
liver;
Their concentration is especially high in kidney tissue.

Methylated mercury ( organic compound) easily penetrates into tissues through digestive tract and skin, quickly overcomes the erythrocyte membrane and forms a stable compound with hemoglobin, causing tissue hypoxia. Methylated mercury can accumulate in nerve tissue and kidneys.

Symptoms of poisoning

Symptoms of mercury poisoning will vary from case to case because clinical picture is largely determined by the way the toxic substance enters the body, as well as the duration of contact with it.

For acute poisoning mercury vapor is characterized by:

inflammation respiratory tract, proceeding as interstitial pneumonitis;
increased mental excitability;
tremor.

For chronic mercury vapor poisoning suffers more nervous system, which leads to the appearance of the following clinical signs:

fatigue;
weight loss, anorexia;
dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract;
severe hand tremors when trying to do anything voluntary movement, which later becomes generalized, i.e. affecting all muscle groups;
development of mercury erethism (high nervous excitability, insomnia, sharp deterioration memory and thought processes, timidity, and when severe poisoning– delirium).

For chronic inorganic mercury poisoning the same symptoms as for chronic intoxication caused by prolonged inhalation of vapors of this metal. But in this case, the clinical picture also includes manifestations of stomatitis, gingivitis, as well as loosening and loss of teeth. Over time, patients experience damage to kidney tissue, which is manifested by the development of nephrotic syndrome.

Exposure to mercury salts on the skin can cause various lesions, from mild erythema to severe forms scaly dermatitis. In children younger age contact skin with inorganic mercury causes the development pink disease(acrodynia), which is often regarded as Kawasaki disease. Other symptoms of poisoning with mercury salts when they enter the body through the skin are:

hypertrichosis;
photosensitivity;
generalized rash;
skin irritation;
profuse sweating, which often leads to desquamation of the superficial skin cells of the hands and feet.

For acute poisoning with mercury salts, penetrating through the digestive tract are characterized by:

nausea;
vomiting with blood;
stomach ache;
tenesmus;
bloody stool;
necrosis of the intestinal mucosa;
acute kidney necrosis.

Severe poisoning is often accompanied by massive loss of fluid. As a result, the patient develops hypovolemic shock, which can be fatal.

Poisoning with methylated mercury is extremely dangerous. They are accompanied by the following symptoms:

cerebral palsy, the development of which is associated with atrophic processes in the cerebellar cortex and cerebral hemispheres brain;
headaches;
paresthesia;
speech, hearing and vision disorders;
memory loss;
impaired coordination of movements;
erethism;
stupor;
coma.

In case of severe poisoning, death is possible.

Source: depositphotos.com

First aid for mercury poisoning

In case of acute poisoning by metallic mercury vapors The victim should be taken out into fresh air and loosen tight clothing.

In case of acute mercury poisoning that enters the body through the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to urgently rinse the stomach. To do this, you should drink several glasses clean water, and then, pressing on the root of the tongue, induce reflex vomiting.

Drugs with an absorbent effect do not interact with mercury, so there is no point in taking them.

Upon skin contact with mercury or its compounds, they must be thoroughly washed with a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate.

When is medical help needed?

In case of any type of mercury poisoning, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible - either call an ambulance, or independently ensure the delivery of the victim to the hospital.

To bind toxic mercury compounds trapped in digestive system, the patient is prescribed polythiol resins.

At high concentration mercury in blood serum and urine, complex-forming therapy is indicated, for which Dimercaprol and D-penicillamine are prescribed. The main goal of this treatment is to accelerate the excretion of mercury in the urine and reduce the severity of clinical symptoms intoxication.

Possible consequences

Mercury poisoning often has severe course and end with the development of complications. Possible consequences:

disorders of higher mental activity, up to disability;
mercury poisoning during pregnancy can cause the development of various abnormalities in the fetus;
lethal outcome.

Prevention

For prevention household poisoning When dealing with mercury, you should very carefully use any devices (household, medical) containing metallic mercury or its compounds.

If mercury is spilled in a room, you should contact the SES and call a team of demercurization (mercury removal) specialists. If this is not possible, they proceed to demercurization independently.

Collect the spilled mercury in a hermetically sealed container using a pipette or damp cotton balls.
Cover the place where the mercury has poured out generously baking soda or salt, remove the powder after 2-3 hours, treat the surface thoroughly weak solution potassium permanganate.
Constantly ventilate the room for a week to remove mercury vapor as completely as possible.
It is forbidden to use a vacuum cleaner or broom to clean mercury; collected mercury into the sewer, use and wash clothes and other textiles that have been exposed to mercury - they must be disposed of.

In industries that use mercury compounds in their work, careful monitoring of compliance with safety regulations must be carried out.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

We can say that mercury poisoning is fatal dangerous problem, which can actually arise quite simply. An ordinary broken thermometer results in a lot of poisonous balls scattering around the apartment, and it turns out to be very difficult to collect them. According to statistics, in our country every year dozens of children and adults die from these beautiful shiny particles. In some cases, the cause of this is the same broken thermometer, and sometimes even the entry of a hazardous substance into food products, as a result of insufficient control at production.

Moreover, this substance under discussion is included in the list of one of the most toxic and poisonous substances and poisoning with it can lead to dire consequences for a person.

By the way, the following devices we regularly use can be considered sources of threat:

mercury lamps;
paint containing mercury pigment;
fluorescent lamps;
mercury valves;
some thermometers, pressure gauges, etc.

IN lately There have been cases of mercury mysteriously getting into cigarettes, bread grains, skin whitening cosmetics, fish and seafood.

Why is mercury harmful and what are the consequences of poisoning?

The substance itself, as well as it, is very poisonous and if it enters the body of any person, regardless of his age, gender and state of health, it leads to very serious consequences. It is extremely difficult to remove mercury molecules from the body, so they continue to endlessly destroy human health and poison him. They have a particularly strong effect on children and the fair sex.

The consequences of such poisoning include:

lesions of the central nervous system, which lead to loss of coordination, lethargy, weakness and depression;
damage to the genitourinary system;
damage to the digestive system.

If, as a result of poisoning, the functioning of vital important systems and organs, it can be fatal.

It is important to add that to date, scientists have not yet been able to study all the main consequences of the influence of mercury on human body. There is an assumption that it is the processes described above that significantly influence the progression statistics cancer diseases in modern society.

If the poisoning is mild and help comes to the patient on time, then there is a chance that the body will be able to recover in 2-3 weeks.

Signs and symptoms

To instantly identify mercury poisoning, you need to know all its main signs and symptoms. The substance in question can enter the body through the skin or lungs. Interestingly, if you swallow the poisonous shiny balls unchanged, the mercury will be eliminated from the body naturally and it won't harm him at all. It is the salts of this substance that are dangerous to our health.

First of all, in case of poisoning, the nervous system is affected, so the person becomes irritable, feels tired, has a severe headache, his memory deteriorates, and, in addition, he constantly wants to sleep.

Next, the temperature may rise, inflammation in the mouth appears (similar to stomatitis), trembling of the whole body and especially the hands develops, the patient begins to sweat a lot and feels.
Then signs of damage to the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract appear - difficulty urinating, nausea, vomiting, as well as increased salivation.

If, despite all the symptoms, no action is taken, death is likely.

First aid and treatment for poisoning

If you notice symptoms of mercury poisoning in one of your loved ones, the very first thing to do is call an ambulance. After this, you need to give him water to drink, induce vomiting, and then give him water to drink again. It is advisable after this to also give the patient 5-7 tablets of activated carbon and put him to rest.

If you have potassium permanganate in the house, you can rinse your mouth with a weak solution. Emergency doctors usually give the patient unithiol, a laxative, and rinse the stomach with a tube. Anyway medical assistance needed as soon as possible.

Degrees of poisoning

Mercury poisoning can be acute or chronic. In everyday life, it is the second option that is most often encountered. For example, small drops of mercury from a broken thermometer can fall into cracks in the floor or wall and cause such poisoning. However, symptoms may not appear for many months or arise slowly and gradually, when no one remembers about the problem with the thermometer.

Regardless of the degree of poisoning, it is very important to seek help from a doctor as soon as possible. In case of acute poisoning, help must come to the patient almost instantly, otherwise death is possible.

Prevention methods

The main method of prevention is to carefully use all devices that contain this dangerous substance inside.

If it was spilled indoors, then you need to collect all the shiny balls of mercury using cotton wool or just a pipette. It absorbs very well. Next, all the cracks must be carefully filled with salt or baking soda, and after a while, collect the powder and throw it away. Places where mercury could be found should then be covered with bleach.

The main thing is not to use a broom or vacuum cleaner, which can break up the poisonous balls. If you were unable to assemble them yourself, it is better to call specialists to process the room.

Mercury is a heavy metal. Its compounds in the form of salts and oxides are used in production; it is part of some paints and disinfectants. Moreover, the salts of this metal are more toxic than the oxides.

At home, mercury can be encountered when thermometers and energy-saving light bulbs are damaged. Metal vapor poisoning from one broken light bulb is unlikely. If light bulbs are damaged periodically, then chronic poisoning is quite possible. At school, in physics and chemistry lessons, reactions with mercury are carried out, so there are also cases of poisoning when safety precautions are violated when working with chemicals.

Entry routes for mercury

Mercury vapor poisoning can occur through the skin. In this case, intoxication develops slowly.

A more dangerous situation occurs when metal particles get on the mucous membranes or are swallowed. In this case, the liver experiences a toxic shock.

The most severe form of poisoning occurs after inhaling vapors or directly entering the bloodstream, since the liver is practically not involved in their neutralization.

Toxic dose of mercury

Most often, a person comes into contact with mercury when breaking a thermometer. Is it possible to get poisoned when a thermometer breaks?

“The thermometer contains about two grams of mercury. If half of this dose enters the human body, it is fatal.

Much depends on the age, gender, body weight of the person in contact with dangerous poison. The size of the room in which the mercury was released is also important.

The listed factors influence the severity of poisoning. The probability of mercury poisoning itself from a thermometer, if measures are not taken, is close to 100%, since its average toxic dose is only 0.4 mg.

What to do if the thermometer breaks? This will be discussed below.

Symptoms of mercury vapor poisoning

Poisoning can occur acutely, for example, when inhaling vapors, subacutely and chronically, when a small amount of mercury enters the body over a long period of time.

An acute course is rare and may occur in industrial accidents where mercury is used, and in other similar cases. More often there is chronic mercury poisoning from a thermometer, the symptoms of which develop gradually.

Common symptoms of mercury vapor poisoning will be:

It is important to understand that in each case the set of symptoms is individual and depends on many factors. Classic manifestations of poisoning are one thing, but cases in practice are completely different.

How to determine mercury poisoning? Symptoms are mostly nonspecific and occur with poisoning by other heavy metals, as well as inflammatory diseases various organs that suffer from mercury intoxication. Clear evidence is provided by a blood concentration test toxic substance, which is detected in case of poisoning from 180 mcg/l and above.

Symptoms of mercury poisoning during pregnancy

Mercury poisoning during pregnancy is rare, but does occur.

The symptoms will be the same as in non-pregnant women. Intoxication is dangerous due to the threat of fetal death.

What to do if you have mercury poisoning

What to do if the thermometer breaks

Compliance with safety precautions when working with mercury at work, as well as undergoing regular medical examinations for timely detection intoxication heavy metal reduces the risk of getting sick. At home preventive measures are to replace all mercury thermometers with electronic ones and be more careful with energy-saving lamps.

What to do if the thermometer breaks?

Treat this responsibly and without panic.
Get everyone out of the room.
Close the door and open the windows.
Children under 18 years of age, pregnant women and people with serious chronic diseases should not collect mercury.
It is necessary to isolate mercury using rubber gloves in a sealed glass container. To protect yourself from inhaling toxic fumes, wear cotton gauze or medical mask. Feet must have shoe covers.
Collect mercury with sheets of paper and using adhesive tape - gluing small balls with the sticky surface of the tape.
Place everything that has had contact with mercury in a plastic bag.
Call the Ministry of Emergency Situations or ask them for the number where to go to clean the room and dispose of the collected metal.

Most favorable outcome have acute poisoning mild degree gravity. The greatest damage to organs occurs with prolonged intoxication. In this case, the consequences of mercury poisoning from a thermometer will be the formation of severe chronic diseases of the affected organs, not to mention fatal outcome. Timely request for medical care will reduce these consequences to a minimum.

Mercury poisoning occurs when excess amounts of mercury vapor or compounds enter the body. To determine the presence of such things in the air

Peculiarities

Mercury poisoning begins with the gradual accumulation of mercury in the lungs when inhaled. At risk are people who are forced to work near hazardous compounds. Mercury vapor poisoning occurs more often in children and women. The consequences can be varied and very severe, so it is important to carry out treatment correctly.

In terms of risk of exposure, the first place is inhalation of mercury vapor, the second is ingestion, and the third is touching the surface of the skin.

The severity of poisoning depends on general condition human health. People who have chronic diseases or simply weakened, receive more pronounced poisoning than completely healthy people. Treatment should be started as early as possible, since long-term exposure to mercury leads to many diseases.

If for some reason mercury balls scatter in the room, you need to find them all. Otherwise, people in the room will chronically inhale toxic fumes. For collection, you can illuminate the floor with a table lamp.

Signs of poisoning

Symptoms of mercury poisoning differ for acute and chronic processes.

In case of acute poisoning the following are noted:

headache;
general weakness;
lack of appetite;
metallic taste in the mouth;
pain when swallowing;
Very severe pain in the stomach;
salivation;
nausea and vomiting;
swelling and bleeding of the gums;
mucous or bloody diarrhea.

Other signs of mercury poisoning sometimes occur:

increase in body temperature to 38 - 40 degrees;
shortness of breath and cough;
chest pain;
pneumonia;
catarrh of the upper respiratory tract;
severe chills.

Mercury is found in the urine of a poisoned person. In severe cases, poisoning is fatal.

Chronic poisoning mercury develops with regular intake of small doses of this substance into the body. Symptoms of mercury poisoning in this case:

drowsiness;
increased fatigue;
headaches;
apathy;
dizziness;
depression;
irritability;
shyness;
self-doubt;
decreased attention;
weakening of self-control and memory;
decreased mental abilities;
tremor of the fingers and the whole body during excitement;
decreased sense of smell;
frequent urge to urinate and defecate;
cardiac arrhythmias;
decreased skin sensitivity and taste perception;
sweating;
enlarged pancreas;
decrease in blood pressure.

Mercury poisoning from a thermometer

Sources of mercury can be:

household;
medical;
food;
technogenic.

In apartment conditions, the greatest danger is posed by fluorescent lamps and mercury thermometers.

What to do if the thermometer is broken

A broken thermometer usually causes fear and misunderstanding of what actions need to be taken to avoid poisoning. The best plan for what to do:

do not panic;
ask everyone to leave the premises;
cover your nose with a medical bandage or gauze;
put shoe covers or bags on your feet and rubber gloves on your hands;
take a hermetically sealed glass container, adhesive tape or sheets of paper;
collect all the mercury balls in a jar with a plaster or paper;
tie all items that touched mercury in a plastic bag;
The floor in the room should be washed with soap and soda water (40 g of soap and 30 g of soda per 1 liter of water) or a solution of potassium permanganate;
Find out by the number of the Ministry of Emergency Situations where you can donate mercury and whether any treatment of the premises is required.

After removing mercury, a person should spend more time on fresh air and in a ventilated area. It is important to drink plenty of fluids so that the kidneys can eliminate all mercury compounds.

What to do if mercury gets on your clothes

Clothes on which mercury has fallen can be treated as follows:

30 minutes rinse cold water;
30 minutes of rinsing in a hot solution of fashion and soap;
20 minutes of washing in an alkaline solution;
rinse in cold water.

Children are very attracted to silver balls of mercury, so the jar with the remains of a thermometer should not be in their field of vision. There are cases where a child played with mercury for a long time before it was noticed, but was not poisoned. However, it is better to avoid such situations. Children are among the most severely poisoned people.

Other sources

Previously, dentistry used filling materials that contained mercury compounds. Now such fillings are no longer installed.

Chronic poisoning in most cases occurs among people who work for a long time in the production of mercury-galvanic batteries or are involved in the processing of certain alloys. People of such professions regularly undergo medical examinations. If signs of chronic poisoning appear, the optimal solution is to change work to a safer one.

Mercury accumulates in many seafood. Its content decreases during heat treatment.

Treatment

If you suspect poisoning, you need to move away from the place where the mercury was. It is advisable to wash exposed areas of the body and face with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or running water.

In case of acute poisoning, you should call an ambulance. There are antidotes to mercury, which doctors will administer to the victim using injections or droppers. Specialists will prescribe appropriate diuretics and blood purification procedures to minimize the effects of poisoning.

To remove poison use:

Unithiol;
Taurine;
Allithiamin;
Methionine;
Succimer.

In some cases, gastric lavage through a tube is recommended, which is problematic to perform at home. The procedure uses a solution of potassium permanganate in cold water. Washing is performed several times a day. After this, sorbent preparations are prescribed, which collect the remains of harmful substances.

Before the ambulance arrives, life-threatening conditions must be eliminated. May be required cardiopulmonary resuscitation and stopping bleeding.

Symptoms may not be noticed mild poisoning, such as headache and general weakness. If you have had contact with mercury, you need to monitor your health especially carefully. Timely treatment helps prevent severe consequences in the future.

The consequences of poisoning can be different, so their treatment is individual.

Mercury in fish and seafood

When choosing fish, you can be guided by information about the mercury content in it.

Low mercury in:

shrimp;
canned tuna;
catfish;
pollock.

Contains a lot of mercury:

swordfish;
shark meat;
king mackerel;
tile

In "white" tuna more mercury than canned.

Particular attention should be paid to the nutrition of pregnant women. The spinal cord and brain of the unborn child are very sensitive to mercury. It is important to keep contact with people to an absolute minimum. hazardous substances during pregnancy. Mercury can lead to miscarriage or underdevelopment of the baby in the future.

Prevention

Most common cause The appearance of mercury in the house is a broken thermometer. To prevent this, you need to:

store the thermometer in a plastic case;
do not allow children to remove the thermometer on their own;
Avoid moving around the house while measuring temperature so that the thermometer does not slip onto the floor.

When choosing seafood, you should give preference to those that are not prone to mercury accumulation.

Mercury-containing lamps, thermometers and other equipment containing mercury should not be disposed of with normal household waste. Such items are disposed of by special organizations that exist in all cities. Their number can be found on the Internet, at the help desk or by calling the Ministry of Emergency Situations. If mercury or items containing it are thrown into regular trash, many people could be harmed. It must be stored in an airtight glass container until destroyed.

To be poisoned by mercury, you do not need a large amount of it. Even a small dose of this substance can lead to serious consequences for health.

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