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  • Toxicology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
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The neuropathogenesis of mercury toxicity

Molecular Psychiatry volume 7, pages S40–S41 (2002)Cite this article

Elemental and inorganic mercury (Hg) are found in scientific instruments, electrical equipment, dental amalgams, felt making, disinfectants, production of caustic soda, and disk batteries. Environmental Hg contamination has increased dramatically since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. The largest contributor to atmospheric contamination is coal burning. Mining, smelting, and refining processes also contribute locally to Hg contamination. Through natural processes and direct commercial discharge, most Hg settles in the marine environment. In the waterways, methylation of inorganic mercury to methylmercury (MeHg) leads to its accumulation in the food chain. Anthropogenic sources resulting in the acidification of freshwater streams and lakes, and the impoundment of water for large hydroelectric schemes have led to increasingly higher MeHg concentrations in fish. A considerable degree of bio-concentration takes place as MeHg moves up the aquatic food chain. Most marine fish contain <0.5 ppm MeHg, but sharks, sailfish, marlin, and other billfish frequently have levels of over 1 ppm. When local waters are polluted with MeHg, levels may be much higher.

The clinical manifestations of organic mercury poisoning depend on the type of Hg compound involved. Ethylmercury (EthylHg; the additive in thimerosal) mimics the neurotoxicity of MeHg, whereas phenylmercury mimics the toxicity of inorganic Hg salts. MeHg, at high concentrations, causes a toxic encephalopathy with severe congenital form resulting from prenatal exposure. The correlation between clinical symptoms and whole blood Hg depends both on the Hg species and/or the duration of exposure. Whole-blood mercury levels are the best measure of recent inorganic Hg and elemental Hg vapor absorption. Normal blood levels of Hg do not exceed 1–3 μg dl−1. Hair analysis indicates past exposure, and the Hg blood to hair ratio is ∼2:250.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    M Aschner & S J Walker

  2. Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    M Aschner

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  1. M Aschner
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  2. S J Walker
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Correspondence to M Aschner.

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Aschner, M., Walker, S. The neuropathogenesis of mercury toxicity. Mol Psychiatry 7 (Suppl 2), S40–S41 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4001176

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