Neurotoxicology
Philip B. Gorelick, Fernando D. Testai, Graeme J. Hankey, Joanna M. Wardlaw in Hankey's Clinical Neurology, 2020
Mercury is a common metal of concern given the potential for exposure from thermometers, barometers, and from consumption of seafood—particularly large fish in which bioaccumulation can lead to elevated mercury levels. Mercury exists in elemental, inorganic, and organic forms, each having different consequences in humans. Elemental mercury is a silver liquid metal at room temperature that generally has limited dermal absorption, however, can be readily absorbed by inhalation if dispersed in the environment. Elemental mercury spills require specialized decontamination. Brooms and vacuums should never be used as these can atomize the elemental mercury leading to a significantly larger exposure. Inorganic mercury exposure can cause a caustic gastroenteritis, hypovolemic shock, and renal failure. Organic mercury compounds, such as dimethylmercury, are readily absorbed and exposure to small amounts can lead to significant toxicity. Neurologic manifestations of organic mercury poisoning can include peripheral neuropathy, tremor, and impairment of hearing and vision, particularly color vision and peripheral vision. Subacute and chronic mercury toxicity can also manifest as erethism, a neuropsychiatric syndrome consisting of irritability, depression, timidity or shyness, and emotional lability. Severe cases can progress to include insomnia, marked personality changes, and delirium. This syndrome was described in the 19th century in patients with occupational exposure to mercuric nitrate used in the production of felt hats, leading to the epithet “mad hatter's disease.” Treatment is primarily removal from exposure, and chelation can be considered but should be done in consultation with a medical toxicologist or poison center.
Niacin prevents mitochondrial oxidative stress caused by sub-chronic exposure to methylmercury
Published in Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 2020
Lílian Cristina Pereira, Eloisa Silva de Paula, Murilo Pazin, Maria Fernanda Hornos Carneiro, Denise Grotto, Fernando Barbosa, Daniel Junqueira Dorta
Mercury (Hg) is a well-known environmental pollutant that induces severe toxicological effects in biological systems (Stacey and Kappus 1982). The extent of damage varies according to Hg dosage, level of exposure to Hg, and Hg chemical form, but all Hg forms can be toxic (Roos et al.2012). Humans and animals can be exposed to different Hg chemical forms in the environment, including elemental Hg vapor (Hg0), inorganic Hg (i-Hg; mercurous ion [Hg+], and mercuric ion [Hg2+]), and organic Hg compounds like ethylmercury, methylmercury (MeHg), and dimethylmercury (Clarkson 2002, Bernhoft 2012). Humans can also be exposed to Hg through the use of medicinal products containing HgS, such as popular Tibetan medicines for sedation (Li et al.2016), cosmetics, and skin-lightening creams (Borowska and Brzóska 2015, Agorku et al.2016).
History of Modern Clinical Toxicology
Published in Clinical Toxicology, 2022
Focusing on modern clinical toxicology and its growth since the 1950s, History of Modern Clinical Toxicology is the most recent edition of the History of Toxicology and Environmental Health Series from Elsevier’s Academic Press. Through detailed reviews, Dr. Alan Woolf, along with the section editors and chapter authors, highlight many of the key events that helped shape the field over the past 70 years. This book serves as an excellent compendium for Medical Toxicologists, Specialists in Poison Information, fellows, residents and anyone interested in the field’s history. Divided into 6 sections, the edition begins describing modern toxic calamities including “Ginger Jake,” methylmercury poisonings in Japan and Iraq, the Seveso dioxin disaster, and the consequences seen from arsenic in tube well water in Bangladesh, among others. The second section goes on to review the 1937 United States sulfanilamide disaster, gasping syndrome, the effects of thalidomide, the political poisonings of Yushchenko and Markov, Tylenol(R) cyanide poisonings and the dimethylmercury death of Professor Wetterhahn. Together, these sections emphasize the importance of being vigilant, as poisoning can be rapid or insidious, intentional or accidental. This edition continues by reviewing the discovery of selected modern antidotes, including N-acetylcysteine, fomepizole, methylene blue, dimercaprol, pralidoxime, naloxone, physostigmine, and cyanide antidotes, and discussing their roles in modern therapeutics. Additionally, three sections are dedicated to clinical toxicology and poison control and poison information around the globe. These sections describe historical differences and current methodologies seen within poison control in the United States, Asia and Australia as well as poison information in Europe, Scandinavia and Israel. This edition also highlights professional societies from their humble beginnings to their current impact on supporting the infrastructure of poison control and poison information centers.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Halide
- Mercury Poisoning
- Methyl Group
- Methylmercury
- Neurotoxin
- Potassium Cyanide
- Organomercury Chemistry
- Mercury
- Iodide
- Iodomethane