Mercury

Blood
check icon Optimal Result: 0 - 6.98 ug/L.

Whole blood mercury levels are within the normal reference range, which suggests no recent excessive exposure. However, values in the high-normal range may still warrant investigation to identify and reduce possible sources of mercury exposure.

Overview of Mercury Toxicity

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that exists in three primary forms in the body:

  • Elemental mercury

  • Inorganic mercury

  • Organic mercury (primarily methylmercury, MeHg)

Exposure to high levels of mercury can result in symptoms such as:

  • Impaired balance and coordination

  • Hearing loss

  • Speech difficulties

  • Tingling or numbness due to peripheral nerve damage

When selenium or zinc levels are low in the presence of elevated mercury, it's important to increase these nutrients to support the body's antioxidant defense systems. Mercury strongly binds to sulfur and selenium-containing proteins, particularly in the brain, where its half-life may exceed 20 years.

Mercury Detoxification and Protection Mechanisms

  • Metallothioneins, sulfur-rich proteins upregulated by zinc, help bind and sequester heavy metals like mercury and cadmium, reducing their toxicity.

  • Selenium forms inert complexes with mercury, neutralizing its oxidative potential.


Forms of Mercury and Their Sources

Elemental Mercury

  • Poorly absorbed through the digestive tract but up to 80% is absorbed when inhaled as vapor

  • Can cross the blood-brain barrier before converting to inorganic mercury in tissues

  • Sources include:

    • Dental amalgams (release 2–28 µg/day of elemental mercury; ~80% is absorbed)

    • Broken thermometers

    • Fluorescent bulbs

    • Industrial processes and mining

Elimination occurs through urine and feces after conversion to inorganic mercury.


Inorganic Mercury

  • Accumulates primarily in the kidneys, where it can cause significant damage

  • Sources are limited today, but still include:

    • Mercury chloride (used in some pesticides and disinfectants)

  • Found in urine, as nearly all mercury excreted in urine is inorganic


Organic Mercury (Methylmercury, MeHg)

  • The most toxic and commonly encountered form of mercury in humans

  • Lipophilic (fat-soluble), accumulating in:

    • Red blood cells

    • Brain and nervous tissue

    • Other fatty tissues

  • Primarily formed by microorganisms in water, which convert elemental and inorganic mercury into methylmercury

  • Bioaccumulates up the food chain—highest levels found in large predatory fish such as:

    • Tuna

    • Swordfish

    • Shark

Up to 95% of mercury in fish is in the methylmercury form, and almost all of it is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. About 95% of mercury in whole blood is methylmercury, making whole blood testing ideal for assessing both recent and ongoing exposure. The half-life of methylmercury in the bloodstream is approximately 50 days.


Environmental and Occupational Exposure

It’s estimated that 50–75% of environmental mercury originates from human activity. Major contributors include:

  • Coal-fired power plants

  • Gold mining

  • Metal and cement production

  • Fertilizers and pesticides

  • Waste incineration

Natural sources include volcanoes, weathering of rocks, soil, and ocean activity.

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