Collagen Disorders Caused by Mercury

The cause of some collagen disorders is linked to mercury poisoning. You can be exposed to toxic mercury levels from eating too much shellfish, breathing contaminated air and being exposed to elemental mercury.

Collagen Disorders

• Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. It is a fundamental component of all connective tissue and is found in tendons, ligaments, skin, muscles, bones and the corneas.

Scleroderma

• Mayo Clinic defines scleroderma as "a group of rare, progressive diseases that involve the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues." Symptoms are numbness in the extremities and patches of thick, tough skin. A University of Maryland School of Medicine study concluded that patients with severe cases "were more likely to have higher levels of mercury in urine, as compared ... to less severely affected cases."

Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder defined by the Mayo Clinic as "a chronic inflammatory disorder that most typically affects the small joints in your hands and feet." It causes painful joint swelling, bone degradation and deformation. Too much mercury alters the immune system response, and excessive mercury accumulation in the joints can result in arthritis.