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Abstract

Heavy metal poisoning is becoming more and more prevalent in current scenario. Among those heavy metals mercury toxicity is mostly reported. Natural and anthropogenic sources were releasing the mercury into the atmosphere and getting deposited in the air, land and on water and causes severe air and water pollution. Mercury exists in three forms, elemental, inorganic and organic form. All the three forms of mercury are toxic in nature. Mercury is used in dental amalgams, thermometers, barometers, vaccines, skin creams, blood pressure monitors, and batteries and in other products. Mercury enters into the body through inhalation, ingestion and through the dermal contact. The severity of the mercury poisoning depends upon the route of exposure, quantity of dose intake, and the time period of exposure. If the living organisms exposed for longer duration chronic poisoning occurs. Elimination of mercury from the body occurs through sweat, tears, urine, faces, and through breast milk. Bio conjugated gold particles, atomic fluorescence spectrometry, mass spectrometry, cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy and miscellaneous methods were used for the detection of mercury. Consumption of sea food and exposing to the products containing mercury causes severe health impacts. Methyl mercury is more toxic in nature it causes severe neurological damage to the infants. This review addresses about how mercury is deposited in the different organ systems and changes occurred in the different organ systems due to mercury poisoning. Mercury causes severe cellular, cardiovascular, neurological, immunological, digestive, renal, endocrine, reproductive and embryonic toxic effects.

Keywords : Elemental mercury; Inorganic mercury; organic mercury; Toxicokinetics; Toxicity.

Corresponding Author : Anita Yadav, Assistant Professor, Division of Forensic Science, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Galgotias University, Greater Noida-201312, Uttar Pradesh, India.