ABSTRACT
Globally, mercury (Hg) poisoning cases have been accounted for consistently high mortality rate. Exposure with Hg is the second-highest common reason for toxicity with metal poisoning. Normally, Hg exists in three forms, which are essential as in thermometers, inorganic as batteries, and organic as methylmercury in fish. Heavy metal form of Hg has been used for medical as well as toxicological purposes for quite a long time. Recently, the metal has gained high focus due to the apprehension of environmental exposure. Long-term exposure to Hg compounds from various sources can adversely affect various biological systems. Pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological, and dermatological systems are usually encountered in human beings after Hg poisoning. The level of Hg can be measured in blood, hair, and urine samples. Currently, along with supportive therapy, chelating agents such as dimercaprol (British anti-Lewisite; BAL), succimer (2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid; DMSA), and unithiol (dimercaptopropanesulfoxid acid; DMPS) are used in Hg toxicity. The chapter discusses properties, uses, sources of Hg and its exposure, toxic dose, toxicokinetics, mechanism of toxicity, clinical presentations in humans and animals, diagnosis, and management of Hg. The authors discussed a pediatric case of Hg poisoning at the end of the chapter for the readers.
