Toxicology
Aruna Bakhru in Nutrition and Integrative Medicine, 2018
Mercury is a silvery-white metal element that is liquid at ordinary room temperature; it has no taste or smell. It occurs as metallic mercury (Hg), as cinnabar (HgS), and in about 25 other organic mineral compounds. Mercury exists in three basic forms: the elemental (H0), inorganic salts (H2 and H3), and the organic state. The elemental state is a silver-gray liquid, which volatilizes slowly at room temperatures, and vaporizes more rapidly when heated. This form accounts for most occupational exposures. Inhalation of the elemental vapor is very hazardous and nearly 100% absorbed and 75% retained. Following vapor inhalation, only 7% is expelled through exhalation. Only about 0.01% is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract when ingested. The fecal route is probably the primary route of excretion for elemental mercury with the urine also being an important route. The saliva and sweat are also potentially capable of excreting mercury.
Atomic Particles, Isotopes, and Ions
Patrick E. McMahon, Rosemary F. McMahon, Bohdan B. Khomtchouk in Survival Guide to General Chemistry, 2019
Example: Determine the element name and particle (p+, e−, n0) numbers for: use the periodic table as necessary. Hg is the symbol for mercury (from the Latin: hydroargentum)The number of protons = Z = 80A = 200 = # of nucleons = (# of protons) + (# of neutrons); solve for # of neutrons:# of neutrons = [# of nucleons (A)] − [# of protons] = [200] − [80] = 120No charge is indicated; atom must be neutral: # of e− = # of p+ = 80 p+ = 80; e−= 80; n0 = 120
Heavy Metals
Dongyou Liu in Handbook of Foodborne Diseases, 2018
Mercury has three common forms: elemental mercury (which may undergo oxidation to become inorganic mercury), methylmercury (which demethylates to become inorganic mercury, generates free radicals, and binds to thiols in enzymes and structural proteins), and inorganic mercury (which binds to thiols in enzymes and structural proteins). Mercury is highly soluble and stable in water and has the lowest boiling temperature (356.73°C) among metals. The water-soluble feature facilitates ready take-up by fish, in which biotransformation of mercury to methylmercury renders its easy absorption by the human gastrointestinal tract upon ingestion. The low boiling temperature enables the formation of mercury vapor, which can be inhaled by mercury miners and subsequently distributed to other organs. Without a robust mechanism for mercury disposal in humans, mercury may accumulate during chronic exposure, concentrate in the brain and kidneys, go across the placenta, and excrete in breast milk [5].
Total, organic, and inorganic mercury in human breast milk: levels and maternal factors of exposure, systematic literature review, 1976–2017
Published in Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 2019
Abha Cherkani-Hassani, Imane Ghanname, Nezha Mouane
Mercury is naturally occurring liquid, odorless, colorless, silvery heavy metal present in the environment from natural and anthropogenic sources (ATSDR 1999). Dietary intake is the most important source of human exposure to mercury (Abadin et al. 1997). Mercury has no biological activity in human and the effects of its exposure on children and adults are well documented for centuries. It is a toxic compound, especially in neonate and when present as methylmercury (MeHg), which can cross the brain and placenta barriers and makes neurotoxic and teratogenic damage (Clarkson et al. 2003). It may cross the mammary gland too, and be transferred to breast milk (Sundberg and Oskarsson 1992). So, despite the main benefits of breast milk (nutrients, antibodies, antioxidants, etc.), it can also be a source of environmental contaminants.
The analysis of parental attitude towards active immunoprophylaxis and its influence on the implementation of an Immunization Schedule among children in Poland
Published in Children's Health Care, 2018
Marta Olszewska, Barbara Smykla, Marta Gdańska, Grzegorz Kiełbasa, Matthew Ficinski, Izabela Szymońska, Katarzyna Starzec, Przemko Kwinta
Of the parents surveyed, 83.67% admitted having concerns about vaccinations in their children related to AEFI (41.33%), overload of the immune system (34%), or pain felt by the child (8.33%). Anaphylaxis, fever, and febrile seizures were indicated by the respondents as AEFI which they are mostly afraid of (35%, 20.33%, and 14.33%, respectively). Parental concerns were most of all associated with mumps, measles, and rubella vaccine (MMR). Only 3.82% of respondents indicated recommended immunization as a reason of concern. Of the parents, 26.33% agreed with the statement that vaccines contain harmful substances. Mercury was indicated in 65.82% of them. The opinion about vaccination toxicity was significantly associated with parental general concerns about child immunization (p = 0.002). Highly educated parents living in the city of over 100,000 inhabitants were more likely to believe in a vaccines’ toxicity (Table 4).
Urban homelessness and baseras/shelters: an evaluative study conducted during winter in NCT Delhi
Published in Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness, 2020
Shankey Verma, Vartika Srivastava
Being a metropolitan city located in the heart of India, Delhi is impregnated with innumerable opportunities. The multipot culture, accessibility, best medical services, unlimited food options, coaching hubs, regular and irregular jobs, all this makes it the most convenient choice for people from all the rung in North India. It is the home to lakhs of people without serving them a proper home. Delhi homeless constitute around 1.28% of the total homeless population of India (Census, 2011). But can we stop the migrants to come to Delhi and settle? No. Article 19 of the Indian Constitution gives every individual the right to freedom of movement and settlement in an area of their choice inside the territory of India (The Constitution of India, 1950). But the extremities in the climate make the stay in open and covered spaces even worse. The scorching heat is crossing the mercury level to as high as 45 degrees Celsius where the chilly winter is plummeting to as low as 3 degrees Celsius. Life without a concrete home makes survival a difficult task for the urban homeless.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Amalgam
- Caesium
- Cinnabar
- Fluorescence
- Mercury Poisoning
- Sphygmomanometer
- Ultraviolet
- Standard Temperature & Pressure
- Dental Restoration
- Mercury(Ii) Chloride