Heavy Metal Mercury and its Toxicity – A Review

Abstract

Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that naturally found in earth crust, air, water and food. The symbol of Mercury is Hg and atomic number is 80. It is also known as quick silver, liquid silver, para. Mercury is also known as parada. Parada has many blemishes like bhumija, girija, varija, nagaja, vangaja etc. If parada is consumed in this form, causes santapa, jadatwa, vata roga, kushta, murcha and even death, hence it is used after purification. After proper purification parada have been used in rasa aushadi preparation. It exist nature in three forms organic, inorganic and elemental. Organic compound of mercury is more toxic than inorganic compound. Elemental mercury is liquid at the room temperature and less toxic than the two other forms of mercury. Any form of mercury is toxic. The sign & symptoms of toxicity depend upon the type, route, dose and duration of exposure. Human exposed to mercury from breathing in contaminated air, seafood consumption, dental amalgam, gold mining, vaccines containing thiomersal etc. The chronic exposure of mercury damage CNS, lungs, kidney, heart and immune system etc. mercury toxicity can diagnosed by mercury level in hair, blood and urine. Beside the supportive measurement, BAL (british anti lewisite), diamercaprol, dimercaptopropanesulfoxid acid (DMPS), penicillamine and chelating agents are used in treatment for mercury toxicity.