Health affects and first aid Inhalation:

Acute:

Inhalation of a high concentration of mercury vapor can cause almost immediate

• dyspnea,
• cough,
• fever,
• nausea and vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• stomatitis,
• salivation,
• metallic taste,
• gingivitis,
• and cardiac abnormalities.
• Respiratory irritation may occur with chest pain and tightness.

• necrotizing bronchiolitis,
• pneumonitis, pulmonary edema,
• pneumothorax,
• interstitial fibrosis,
• and death.
• Acidosis and
• renal damage may also occur.

Allergic reactions that may occur in previously exposed persons include

• dermatitis,
• encephalitis,
• and death.

• Metal fume fever, an influenza-like illness, may occur due to the inhalation of freshly formed metal oxide particles sized below 1.5 microns and usually between 0.02-0.05 microns.
• Symptoms may be delayed 4-12 hours and begin with a sudden onset of thirst, and a sweet, metallic or foul taste in the mouth.

Other symptoms may

• include upper respiratory tract irritation
• accompanied by coughing and a
• dryness of the mucous membranes,
• lassitude and a
• generalized feeling of malaise.
• Fever,
• chills,
• muscular pain,
• mild to severe headache,
• nausea,
• occasional vomiting,
• exaggerated mental activity,
• profuse sweating,
• excessive urination,
• diarrhea and
• prostration may also occur.

Tolerance to fumes develops rapidly, but is quickly lost. All symptoms usually subside within 24-36 hours.

Inhalation: Chronic: Inhalation of mercury vapor over a long period may cause

• mercurialism which is characterized by
  • fine tremors and
  • erethism.
  Tremors may affect the
  • hands first, but may also become evident
  • in the face,
  • arms, and
  • legs.

  Erethism may be manifested by

  • abnormal shyness,
  • blushing,
  • self-consciousness,
  • depression or
  • despondency resentment of criticism,
  • irritability or
  • excitability,
  • headache,
  • fatigue, and
  • insomnia.

In severe cases,

• hallucinations,
• loss of memory, and
• mental deterioration may occur.

Concentrations as low and 0.03 mg/m³ have induced psychiatric symptoms in humans.

Renal involvement may be indicated by

• proteinuria,
• albuminuria,
• enzymuria, and
• anuria.

Other effects may include

• salivation,
• gingivitis,
• stomatitis,
• loosening of the teeth,
• blue lines on the gums,
• diarrhea,
• chronic pneumonitis and
• mild anemia.

Repeated exposure to mercury and its compounds may result in sensitization.

Intrauterine exposure may result in

• tremors and
• involuntary movements in the infants.

Mercury is excreted in breast milk.

Paternal reproductive effects and effects on fertility have been reported in male rats following repeated inhalation exposures.

First Aid:

Remove from exposure area to fresh air immediately.

If breathing has stopped, give artificial respiration.

Maintain airway and blood pressure and administer oxygen if available.

Keep affected person warm and at rest.

Treat symptomatically and supportively.

Administration of oxygen should be performed by qualified personnel.

Get medical attention immediately.

Skin contact: Acute:

Direct contact with liquid may cause

• irritation and
• redness.

Small amounts of mercury may be absorbed through intact skin.

Allergic reactions that may occur in previously exposed persons include

• dermatitis,
• encephalitis, and
• death.

Subcutaneous introcuction, from handling broken thermometers, may result in

• local inflammation,
• granulomatous skin reactions, and
• slight signs of mercury poisoning including
  • digestive disorders,
  • metallic taste in the mouth, and
  • neuropsychic disorders.

Skin contact: Chronic:

prolonged or repeated exposure may result in

• dermal sensitization and
• systemic effects as detailed in chronic inhalation exposure.

Skin contact: First aid:

Remove contaminated clothing and shoes immediately.

Wash affected area with soap or mild detergent and large amounts of water until no evidence of chemical remains (approximately 15-20 minutes).

Get medical attention immediately.

Eye contact: Acute:

Direct contact with liquid may cause irritation and redness.

Animal studies indicate diffusion and absorption of mercury into the tissues of the eye may occur.

No clinical signs of conjunctivitis or inflammation occurred.

Eye contact: Chronic:

Mercury exposure from inhalation ingestion, or skin contact may be indicated by

• mercurialentis,
• discoloration of the crystalline lens, on slit lamp examination of the eye.

First aid: wash eyes immediately with large amounts of water or normal saline, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids, until no evidence of chemical remains (approximately 15-20 minutes).

Get medical attention immediately.

Ingestion:

May cause

• burning of the mouth and
• throat,
• thirst,
• nausea and
• vomiting.

Metallic mercury is not usually absorbed sufficiently from the gastrointestinal tract to induce an acute toxic response.

Rarely, a large single dose may result in sign and symptoms of chronic inhalation is sufficient amount of mercury are retained in the body.

Chronic: Repeated ingestion of small amount of mercury may result in the absorption of sufficient amounts to product toxic effects as detailed in chronic inhalation exposure.

First Aid:

Remove by gastric lavage or emesis.

Maintain blood pressure and airway.

Give oxygen if respiration is depressed.

Do not perform gastric lavage or emesis if victim is unconscious.

Get medical attention immediately (Dreisbach, Handbook of Poisoning, 11th ed.).

Administration of gastric lavage or oxygen should be performed by qualified medical personnel.

Antidote:

The following antidote had been recommended. However, the decision as to whether the severity of poisoning requires administration of any antidote and actual dose required should be made by qualified medical personnel.

Mercury poisoning:

Give dimercaprol, 3mg/kg (or 0.3 ml/10kg) every 4 hours for the first 2 days and then 2mg/kg every 12 hours for a total of 10 days if necessary. Dimercaprol is available as a 10% solution in oil for intra muscular administration.

Hemodialysis will speed the removal of the mercury-dimercaprol complex.

Penicallamine is also effective. Give up to 100 mg/kg/day (maximum 1 gr/day) divided into 4 doses for no longer than 1 week. If a longer administration period is warranted, dosage should not exceed 40/mg/kg/day. Give the drug orally half an hour before meals.

A chelating agent should be continued until the urine-mercury level falls below 505g/24 hours (Dreisbach, Handbook of Poisoning, 12th ed.).

Incompatibility with Acetylene, acetylinic compounds, aluminum, amines, ammonia+moisture, boron diiodphosphide, bromine, 3-bromopropyne, calcium, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, copper and alloys, ethylene oxide + traces of acetylene, lithium, methyl azide, methylsilane + oxygen, nitric acid + alcohols, oxalic acid, oxidants, peroxyformic acid, rubidium, silver perchlorate + 3-hexyne, silver perchlorate + 2-pentyne, sodium, sodium carbide, sulphuric acid (hot), tetracarbonylnickel+ oxygen.

560898 (R-5/97)