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Mercury poisoning
Classification and external resources
Elemental mercury
ICD-10
T56.1
ICD-9
985.0
DiseasesDB
8057
MedlinePlus
002476
eMedicine
emerg/813
Part of a series on
Toxicology and poison
Toxicology (Forensic) · Toxinology
History of poison
(ICD-10 T36-T65, ICD-9 960-989)
Concepts
Poison · Venom · Toxicant · Antidote
Acceptable daily intake · Acute toxicity
Bioaccumulation · Biomagnification
Fixed Dose Procedure · LD50 · Lethal dose
Toxic capacity · Toxicity Class
Toxins and venoms
Neurotoxin · Necrotoxin · Hemotoxin
Mycotoxin · Aflatoxin · Phototoxin
List of fictional toxins
Incidents
Bradford · Minamata · Niigata
Alexander Litvinenko · Bhopal
2007 pet food recalls
List of poisonings
Poisoning types
Elements
Toxic metal (Lead · Mercury · Cadmium · Antimony · Arsenic · Beryllium · Iron · Thallium) · Fluoride · Oxygen
Seafood
Shellfish (Paralytic · Diarrheal
Amnesic) · Ciguatera · Scombroid
Tetrodotoxin
Other substances
Pesticide · Organophosphate · Food
Nicotine · Theobromine · Carbon monoxide · Vitamin · Medicines
Living organisms
Mushrooms · Plants · Venomous animals
Related topics
Hazard symbol · Carcinogen
Mutagen · List of Extremely Hazardous Substances · Biological warfare · Food safety
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Mercury poisoning (also known as mercurialism, hydrargyria, Hunter-Russell syndrome, or acrodynia when affecting children) is a disease caused by exposure to mercury or its toxic compounds. Mercury is a cumulative heavy metal poison which occurs in its elemental form, inorganically as salts, or organically as organomercury compounds; the three groups vary in effects due to differences in their absorption and metabolism, among other factors.[1] However, with sufficient exposure all mercury-based toxic compounds damage the central nervous system and other organs or organ systems such as the liver or gastrointestinal tract.
Symptoms typically include sensory impairment (vision, hearing, speech), disturbed sensation and a lack of coordination. The type and degree of symptoms exhibited depend upon the individual toxin, the dose, and the method and duration of exposure.
Due to its toxicity, there have been campaigns in many countries to ban mercury altogether, despite it being an element found in deposits worldwide.