Table 1 Summary of common forms of mercury, their sources of exposure, major symptoms, and method of excretion with biological half-life
Form | Source(s) | Absorption | Target Organ(s) | Signs/Symptoms | Major Excretory Pathway | Approximate Biological Half-Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elemental (Hg0) | Occupational Dental Amalgam | Inhalation (vapour) | CNS, PNS, Kidney | Insomnia, anxiety, tremor, peripheral neuropathy, nephropathy | Urine and Feces | 60 days |
Inorganic Hg Salts | Topical antiseptics, cosmetics through disrupted skin/epithelium | Ingestion, dermal | Gut, Kidney | Nausea, vomiting nephropathy | Urine and Feces | 40 days (typical range 1–3 months) |
Methyl Hg | Diet (fish) | Ingestion | CNS | Perioral paresthesia, constriction of visual fields, dysarthria, ataxia, impaired hearing, tremor | Feces | 40–70 days |
Ethyl Hg | Thimerosal containing vaccines | Parenteral | CNS, Kidney | Ataxia, paraparesis, deafness, constricted visual fields | Feces | 7–20 days |