Mercury Detoxification

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, May, 2001 by Mitchell A. Fleisher

Since the advent of the Industrial Revolution in the late 19th century, we have all been unfortunately and undeniably exposed to an increasingly toxic and polluted world. Among the most dangerous of these pollutants is mercury, which is considered to be the most toxic, non-radioactive, heavy metal. There are no metabolic functions for which mercury is known to be required. Mercury is considered to be toxic at any concentration in the body and can cause a very wide range of psychophysiological disturbances [1] (see table 1).

Mercury Exists in Different Toxic Forms

Mercury occurs in three different forms -- elemental or metallic, inorganic and organic - each with their own unique, toxicological characteristics and primary sources of exposure (see table 2). Metallic mercury is insoluble in water but dissolves inorganic, lipophilic solvents and is found in dental amalgams, thermometers, electrical switching and pressure-sensing devices, gauges, vacuum pumps, etc. It is the only metal that is in a liquid state at room temperature and vaporizes easily. Elemental mercury accumulates in the brain, kidneys, lungs and fatty tissues, where it causes cellular dysfunction and acute and chronic inflammation. Elemental mercury is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and over 200 grams ingested by children has not resulted in systemic poisoning. The real danger arises from exposure to mercury vapor. Metallic mercury vapor crosses the blood-brain barrier, where it accumulates in the central nervous system (CNS), and damages brain cells, particularly sensory and motor neurons [2] (see table 3).

Elemental mercury vapor exposure may result in the following symptoms: short- and long-term memory loss; poor concentration; intellectual decline; irritability; fits of anger; depression; anxiety or nervousness; shyness or timidity; loss of self-confidence; drowsiness; insomnia; bleeding gums; loosening of teeth; excessive salivation; halitosis or foul breath; metallic taste in the mouth; leukoplakia or white patches of the oral mucosa; gingivitis; stomatitis; ulceration of gingiva, palate and tongue; burning sensation in mouth and throat; alveolar (jaw) bone loss; abdominal cramps; constipation or diarrhea; colitis; arrhythmias (bradycardia, tachycardia); feeble and irregular pulse; alterations in blood pressure; chest pain or pressure; persistent cough; shallow and irregular breathing; emphysema; asthma; rhinitis; sinusitis; allergies; lymphadenopathy or swollen glands, especially in the neck; subnormal body temperature; excessive perspiration; cold, clammy skin, especially of the hands and feet; joint pains; peripheral edema or swelling of limbs; muscle weakness; fatigue; wei ght loss; anorexia or loss of appetite; anemia; hypoxia (poor oxygenation of tissues); chronic or frequent headaches; dizziness, tinnitus or noises in ears; dim or double vision; hearing loss; fine tremors of the hands, feet, eyelids, lips and tongue; parasthesias or abnormal, unpleasant sensations; and, hallucinations and manic depression in severe cases. [3]

Inorganic mercury occurs as mercury salts, the most famous of which is mercurous chloride, or Calomel, used by allopathic physicians for centuries as an agent to "puke and purge" their patients of "evil humors," until it was realized that they were doing far more harm than good. Although only about 10% of inorganic mercury salts are absorbed by the GI tract, they cause serious injury to the mucosal membranes resulting in painful ulcerations of the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, intestines and rectum, toxic gastroenteritis with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Inorganic mercury salts also damage the kidneys leading to a decrease (oliguria) or absence (anuria) of urine production, which results in uremia and possible need for renal dialysis. Although inorganic mercury salts poorly cross the blood-brain barrier, chronic exposure causes cognitive dysfunction and behavioral abnormalities [4] (see table 4).

Mercury can cause Multiple Sclerosis-like Symptoms

Organic mercury compounds are converted from elemental and/or inorganic mercury by microorganisms and human blood enzymatic reactions (see table 5). These are volatile, highly lipid-soluble substances, which easily traverse human tissues. The most important of the organic mercurial toxins is methyl mercury, which is readily absorbed up to 90% by the GI tract, and accumulates in all cells, especially in the brain, liver, kidneys, blood, skin and hair and also in breast milk. Toxicity from chronic exposure to methyl mercury develops gradually. Methyl mercury inhibits acetylcholine synthesis, an essential neurotransmitter, resulting in loss of short- and long-term memory, poor concentration, cognitive dysfunction, incoordination and gait abnormalities, visual and auditory disturbances, i.e., blindness and deafness, decreased and/or aberrations of the sense of taste and smell, slurred speech, tingling and numbness of the extremities, especially of the hands and feet, tremors of the head and limbs, weakness and f atigue; all symptoms which are pathognomonic of multiple sclerosis. Chronic exposure to organic mercury compounds also causes serious immune system impairment resulting in increased susceptibility to infections and cancers. An organic mercurial antiseptic agent, Mercurochrome, has caused death in children when applied to large burns. Dietary organic mercury exposure, largely from contaminated seafood, has caused toxic disasters, e.g., the Minamata, Japan, incident in which dozens of infants were born with severe mental retardation and absence of limbs due to their mothers consuming fish poisoned by local, industrial waste discharges. The body only excretes about 1% dally of its burden of organic mercury. Once chronic, toxic damage from organic mercurial compounds has become established in the body, the prognosis for complete recovery is poor. [5]