Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning

Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is a liquid at room temperature. It is silver in color and is often called quick silver or liquid silver. Mercury is toxic to humans and animals, causing a vast array of adverse health conditions.

Respiratory Symptoms

• Exposure to mercury vapor can cause chemical pneumonitis. Also, mercury poison's respiratory effects can progress to pulmonary edema, respiratory failure and eventually death.

Renal Failure Symptoms

• Mercury poisoning can cause renal damage leading to oliguric (infrequent urination) renal failure, proteinuria (excess protein in the urine), temporary tubular dysfunction, tubular necrosis and nephrotic syndrome.

Cardiovascular Symptoms

• Some of the cardiovascular effects of mercury poison are abnormal blood pressure that results in either hyper- or hypotension, abnormal heart rhythm and unexplained elevations in cholesterol.

Gastrointestinal Symptoms

• Mercury poison can have gastrointestinal effects that include food sensitivity or intolerance, abdominal cramping and chronic diarrhea or constipation.

Skin Symptoms

• Certain skin reactions are symptoms of mercury poisoning such as skin redness and peeling. The areas commonly affected by this are the hands, nose and soles of the feet.

Central Nervous System Symptoms

• Mental illness such as memory loss, anxiety, irrational temperament, bouts of depression and a diminished attention span are the more notorious symptoms of mercury poisoning. However, hypersensitivity to stimulation, insomnia, muscle weakness, numbness, tremors, incoordination and the onset of multiple sclerosis are also symptomatic of mercury poisoning.