is mercury chemical harmful for humanbeing?

Answer 1

The nervous system is very sensitive to mercury. In poisoning incidents that occurred in other countries, some people who ate fish contaminated with large amounts of methylmercury or seed grains treated with methylmercury or other organic mercury compounds developed permanent damage to the brain and kidneys. Permanent damage to the brain has also been shown to occur from exposure to sufficiently high levels of metallic mercury. Whether exposure to inorganic mercury results in brain or nerve damage is not as certain, since it does not easily pass from the blood into the brain.

Metallic mercury vapors or organic mercury may affect many different areas of the brain and their associated functions, resulting in a variety of symptoms. These include personality changes (irritability, shyness, nervousness), tremors, changes in vision (constriction (or narrowing) of the visual field), deafness, muscle incoordination, loss of sensation, and difficulties with memory.

Different forms of mercury have different effects on the nervous system, because they do not all move through the body in the same way. When metallic mercury vapors are inhaled, they readily enter the bloodstream and are carried throughout the body and can move into the brain. Breathing in or swallowing large amounts of methylmercury also results in some of the mercury moving into the brain and affecting the nervous system. Inorganic mercury salts, such as mercuric chloride, do not enter the brain as readily as methylmercury or metallic mercury vapor.

The kidneys are also sensitive to the effects of mercury, because mercury accumulates in the kidneys and causes higher exposures to these tissues, and thus more damage. All forms of mercury can cause kidney damage if large enough amounts enter the body. If the damage caused by the mercury is not too great, the kidneys are likely to recover once the body clears itself of the contamination.

Short-term exposure (hours) to high levels of metallic mercury vapor in the air can damage the lining of the mouth and irritate the lungs and airways, causing tightness of the chest, a burning sensation in the lungs, and coughing. Other effects from exposure to mercury vapor include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, and eye irritation. Damage to the lining of the mouth and lungs can also occur from exposure to lower levels of mercury vapor over longer periods (for example, in some occupations where workers were exposed to mercury for many years). Levels of metallic mercury in workplace air are generally much greater than the levels normally encountered by the general population. Current levels of mercury in workplace air are low, due to increased awareness of mercury's toxic effects. Because of the reduction in the allowable amount of mercury in workplace air, fewer workers are expected to have symptoms of mercury toxicity. Most studies of humans who breathed metallic mercury for a long time indicate that mercury from this type of exposure does not affect the ability to have children. Studies in workers exposed to metallic mercury vapors have also not shown any mercury-related increase in cancer. Skin contact with metallic mercury has been shown to cause an allergic reaction (skin rashes) in some people.

In addition to effects on the kidneys, inorganic mercury can damage the stomach and intestines, producing symptoms of nausea, diarrhea, or severe ulcers if swallowed in large amounts. Effects on the heart have also been observed in children after they accidentally swallowed mercuric chloride. Symptoms included rapid heart rate and increased blood pressure. There is little information on the effects in humans from long-term, low-level exposure to inorganic mercury. It can also kill you.

Answer 2

Mercury poisoning is the ill effects on humans nervous system and other bodily systems due to the over-exposure of mercury. Mercury is a neurotoxin, meaning it affects the nervous system. The "mad hatters" of the 19th century suffered from mercury poisoning which caused personality changes, nervousness, trembling, and even dementia. The hatters were exposed to mercury in the felting process, where mercury was rubbed onto cloth to preserve it.

Today, people are more aware of the dangers of mercury and many of its uses have been discontinued. However, mercury exposure is still an occupational hazard for people in many industries and mercury is present in the environment around us. There is also the risk of exposure due to a thermometer breaking or mercury leaking out of a thermostat or any number of mercury-containing devices. If mercury vapor is inhaled, as much as 80 percent may enter the bloodstream.

Answer 3

Yes, very much! When I was in second grade or something like that, I went to the nurse and she put a mercury thermoneter (Sp?) in my mouth. It cracked open and I ended up swallowing some. I ended up at a doctor's office. Fourtunately I hadn't swallowed alot, but I was drinking milk for a LONG time trying to flush it out of my system! I've also heard of mercury poisoining in fish, and that a lot of people died from an epidemic a few years ago. =)

Answer 4

before everything you may desire to understand that a majority of Washington politicians are wealthy and have investments in 1000's if no longer hundreds of agencies in only about each marketplace. that's real of the two Democrats and Republicans. The FDA is meant to be an self sustaining authority overseeing the two our ingredients and our drugs and is meant to be impression loose (we the two be attentive to that probably isn't real), yet whoever is on top of problems with the Presidency or Congress shouldn't impression their judgements. this is no longer the chemical components that make the mass produced ingredients low-priced than organic and organic ingredients, its the quantity and automation that makes it low-priced in line with unit to offer their product. If the FDA unexpectedly informed Stokely that their green beans had to be grown without fertilizers or pesticides and that no chemical preservatives or style enhancers could be further in packaging they could nonetheless make a low-priced product than maximum nearby or nearby organic and organic growers. The chemical components advance the yields and decrease the loss via spoilage and therefor help revenue, yet could nonetheless advance organically and beat out the "little adult males".

Answer 5

please explain this better.

If u mean for instance you break a thermometor and the liquid mercury gets on your skin yes, it will burn and start to hurt (not sure what will happen if it gets in your blood stream but am sure the results can't be good) it is bad u have to wash your hands under cold running water for several minutes

but there is a small ammount of mercury in our diets that is a good thing (similar i suppose to iron thatacertain ammount is very bad but smaller ammounts are neccesary)

Answer 6

Yes, very harmful do not taste it Eri should know batter.

For some time it had some use in medicine but almost all such uses are suspended or discontinued.

Answer 7

yes it is sure that mercury is harmful to the body as it is a carcinogenic agent which causes myasis a type of cancer and also leads to various cardiac and respiratory problems

Answer 8

Yes. Very harmful.

Answer 9

yes it is - its called Mercury Poisoning - i heard once that people got mercury poisoning by eating fish

Answer 10

Yes, mercury is poisonous.