Mercury & Nerve Damage

Mercury is toxic to humans and prolonged exposure can cause severe damage to the nervous system. The metal, which is a liquid at room temperature, is found in thermometers, switches, batteries and long fluorescent light tubes.

Facts

• Mercury targets certain areas of the brain and nervous system. Three of these areas are the visual cortex, cerebellum and dorsal root ganglia, which attach to the spinal cord.

Early Symptoms

• A loss of sensitivity in the extremities, slurred speech and difficulty walking are seen in early stages of exposure. Nausea, weakness and rashes may also occur.

Advanced Illnesses

• Longer exposure to mercury can do further nerve damage. Tremors, lack of muscle coordination, memory loss and even personality changes can occur.

Exposure

• Exposure to mercury can come from eating contaminated foods or drinking contaminated water. Inhalation may also occur from broken thermometers or other vials containing mercury.

Children

• Children and fetuses are especially sensitive to nerve damage by mercury. If a pregnant woman is exposed to mercury, the fetus most likely will absorb the mercury, which could adversely affect its brain development.