Breathe mercury. Diagnosis of mercury poisoning. Main routes of poisoning

Mercury thermometers are used to determine body temperature and are an integral part of home first aid kit. The advantage of the device is its high accuracy - up to 0.01 degrees. The downside is the toxicity of the liquid metal and its health hazard. Mercury poisoning from a thermometer is common in medical practice.

Mercury is very dangerous for the body

Routes of penetration of mercury from a thermometer

When producing a thermometer, mandatory hardening is carried out for 1 thousand hours. This makes the glass extremely resistant to impact, friction, and abrasion.

Therefore, mercury from a thermometer can enter environment only if the thermometer is broken or through microcracks in the bulb. The probability of independent penetration of a substance through glass is zero, since the glass mass is an inert compound and does not react with liquid metal.

Liquid metal can penetrate the human body:

through the skin;
orally if swallowed;
inhalation method.

Mercury quickly enters the body through the skin

The latter is the most dangerous, as mercury vapor from the lungs immediately enters circulatory system. In this case, the liver does not have time to minimize the toxicity of mercury.

Symptoms of mercury poisoning with a broken thermometer

Symptoms of mercury poisoning can vary depending on the route the substance enters the body.

In everyday life, chronic poisoning most often occurs, since acute form is possible only during an accident at a chemical enterprise.

Signs of mercury poisoning:

Nervous system – fatigue, headaches, trembling limbs, changes in body temperature. In severe cases, loss of consciousness and immersion in a coma are observed.
Digestive system – taste of metal in the mouth, drooling, development of stomatitis. There is pain in the epigastric region, ulcers may appear in the stomach and intestines. In severe cases, bleeding and perforation of the erosion site develops.
Respiratory system - observed inflammatory processes in the bronchi, pulmonary edema. In severe cases, hemoptysis develops.

Mercury poisoning causes inflammation of the bronchi

Symptoms of mercury intoxication are similar to signs of poisoning with heavy metals and gases. Clear diagnostic sign- this is the result of a blood test for the presence heavy metals. Normally, there should be no more than 0.05 mcg in the blood toxic substance per 1 ml of biological fluid.

Toxic dose for humans

Toxic dose toxic substance depends on individual characteristics person, the age of the victim, the route of entry of mercury into the body, the duration of exposure to the poison. Separately, one should take into account the form in which the liquid metal was at the time it entered the body.

Table 1. Lethal doses of mercury

Chronic intoxication develops when the concentration of toxic metal vapors in the air is from 0.001 to 0.005 mg/m3. For acute inhalation injury, the MPC is 0.13–0.80 mg/m3.

What to do if you have mercury poisoning

There are clear algorithms for providing first aid and treating victims of intoxication with mercury and its compounds. They differ depending on how the toxic substance entered the body.

First aid

If the victim has inhaled mercury, he should be removed from the affected area. It is important to provide the patient with a constant supply of fresh air. Then lay or sit down, ensure peace and call an ambulance.

If accidental ingestion of a ball of heavy metal or its salts occurs, the contents of the stomach should be evacuated.

Method of flushing the gastrointestinal tract system:

grind activated carbon at the rate of 1 g per 1 kg of body weight;
mix with 2 liters of water;
stir until a homogeneous suspension is formed;
give the victim something to drink;
press on the root of the tongue and induce vomiting.

After washing the stomach, give the victim milk or protein water - beat 2 egg whites with 1 liter of water - and take him to a medical facility.

Activated carbon is the first remedy for mercury poisoning

Treatment

Treatment of victims in contact with mercury vapors or compounds is a long and complex process. The decay and half-life of toxic metal metabolites ranges from 42 to 75 days.

For chronic and acute intoxication treatment is carried out only on the basis medical institution. If the patient's condition improves after long-term micromercurization, he is transferred under outpatient observation in 3 weeks.

An acute process requires more long period stay in medical institution. The course of therapy is determined individually for each patient.

Drug therapy involves the use of antidotes:

Unithiol – the use of a 5% solution at the rate of 50 mg per 10 kg of weight intravenously is indicated.

first day – 3–4 infusions;
second - 2-3 infusions;
on days 3–7 – 1–2 infusions.

Unithiol is an antidote for intravenous administration.

In case of inhalation damage, the administration of unithiol using inhalation devices and nebulizers is effective. The duration of the course is at least 10 days. After some time it is repeated.

Calcium-disodium salt EDTA - for outpatient therapy - 0.5 g 3 times a day for the first 4 days, then the dosage is reduced.
Strizhevsky's antidote - for oral administration of a toxic metal and its compounds. This alkaline solution, containing hydrogen sulfide in an amount of 0.5%. Just 100 g of antidote neutralizes 4 g of mercury.
Colon lavage with activated carbon.
General strengthening agents, vitamin complexes, antiallergic drugs.

Why is mercury from a thermometer dangerous?

Children are told that mercury is a harmful compound as early as early age. But many adults do not believe in the danger of a thermometer, since the amount of mercury there is insignificant.

Reasons for careful handling of the measuring instrument:

small sizes - a microcrack may form on the glass, toxic metal vapors will have a negative effect for a long time;
fluidity - small balls of sublimate easily pass into any cracks in boards or cracks in walls. Therefore, during demercurization of the premises, they are easy to miss;
ability to accumulate in walls, wood.

In addition, a child can hide the fact that the thermometer has been damaged for fear of punishment.

It is extremely difficult to get acute poisoning from liquid metal fumes at home. Long-term chronic intoxication will be present.

The symptoms of such poisoning are similar to those various diseases, manifests itself gradually and the victim does not associate the broken thermometer with his condition. And dying due to pathologies that developed against the background of long-term mercury intoxication is a very likely outcome.

Prevention

If the thermometer breaks, then do not panic. We need to minimize the consequences of this event.

Algorithm for mercury spills indoors:

The window is wide open - no matter the weather. The room should be cooled and ventilated. At low temperatures mercury becomes less fluid and stops evaporating.
Avoid drafts. The metal balls are small in size. They can simply be blown away.
Change into shoes and clothes that you don’t mind throwing away. An ideal raincoat made of polyethylene. Put rubber gloves on your hands. Cover your face with a towel, gauze bandage moistened with water.
Prepare a solution of potassium permanganate at the rate of 2 g of potassium permanganate per 1 liter of water. Separate a small volume of the solution into a jar.
Prepare soap solution for floor treatment.
Collect metal balls using a piece of paper. Remove the baseboard. Check all cracks and corners. Use a syringe to collect drops of mercury. Place all collected metal in a container with potassium permanganate.
Wash floors and furniture with the remaining permanganate solutions.
Then wash again with soapy water.
Shoes, clothes, gloves - we pack everything in plastic bags. Container with collected mercury, broken thermometer - go there. Tie tightly.
Contact service emergency assistance. Specify the address where you can drop off your belongings and remaining equipment.
Wash thoroughly and rinse oral cavity, rinse the nasal passages. Take activated carbon at the rate of 1 g per 1 kg of body.

To collect mercury, call a special service

If it is impossible to collect the heavy metal in full, then demercurization specialists should be called. Carpets, other things, upholstered furniture must be disposed of after contact with mercuric chloride.

Do not do the following:

Use a vacuum cleaner to collect mercury. It will then either have to be disposed of or disinfected in a laboratory.
Dispose of the remains of the thermometer into garbage chutes, and flush the mercury down the drain.
Wash clothes in which you collected liquid metal.

And remember, your case is not unique. Don't panic, do everything necessary actions to neutralize the territory. If you cannot cope with your anxiety, then call emergency services.

Mercury poisoning is one of the most serious and dangerous poisoning body. Adults and children should beware of this, especially when mercury thermometers are broken. Mercury is a rather dangerous substance. The most dangerous thing is not the metal itself, but mercury vapor poisoning. Even a small dose of a substance can cause serious disruptions in the functioning of the body. Mercury exposure typically affects the digestive system, nervous system, skin, liver, kidneys and eyes. This element is dangerous for humans; mercury is widely used in industry, for example, for the manufacture of mercury thermometers.

Reasons

The very cause of mercury poisoning is exposure to toxic substance into the body in large doses. Mercury enters through provoking factors:

Working conditions under which a person has to come into contact with a given substance (chemical or metallurgical industry).
Dentistry. When a filling is placed, it typically contains a certain amount of mercury, which can cause poisoning.
Fluorescent lamps. The dose of mercury contained in lamps may well lead to children's body to poisoning.
Mercury thermometer.
Seafood. The accumulation of a large amount of mercury salts and the concentration does not decrease during their processing.

Toxic dose of mercury

The dose rate of mercury should not exceed 0.0003 mg/m3. Inhalation of mercury vapor containing a toxin concentration of 0.25 mg/m3 provokes the accumulation of the substance in the body.

If the concentration is higher, then the vapors are able to penetrate healthy skin. There are acute and chronic poisonings.

Clinical picture

Acute mercury poisoning occurs with short exposure to the toxin, but in significant doses sufficient to cause poisoning. Through short time the following symptoms occur:

Headache;
Weakness, malaise;
Sore throat when swallowing;
Decreased appetite;
Metallic taste;
Severe drooling;
Bleeding gums;
Nausea, vomiting.

Not later large number time there are more severe symptoms mercury poisoning:

Severe abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea;
Cough and shortness of breath;
Body temperature rises;

Similar manifestations occur in adults and children. In children, symptoms of mercury poisoning increase much faster and are more pronounced. Therefore children need immediate help doctor Chronic mercury poisoning is characterized by inhalation of mercury vapor over a significant period of time. Sometimes this can be several months or even years. The nature of the symptoms depends on the condition of the body and its immune defense. Most often it appears:

Fatigue.
Drowsiness.
Weakness.
Dizziness.
Emotional lability.

There may be a loss of self-control, dementia, and with excitement, tremors of the limbs and the urge to defecate or urinate. Excessive sweating, loss of smell and taste, increase thyroid gland and heart failure.

Is a broken thermometer dangerous?

Mercury is highly toxic substance. Naturally, even mercury from a broken thermometer can cause poisoning. If mercury is not collected and disposed of in a timely manner, acute poisoning occurs. If mercury is not completely collected, then its exposure over a long period provokes the onset of chronic poisoning.

Mercury is especially harmful to older people and children, since their bodies are weakened and have less resistance. Symptoms appear much faster. The signs of mercury poisoning from a thermometer are the same.

What to do if the thermometer breaks

Many people use mercury thermometers and sometimes break them due to carelessness. You need to know how to properly collect mercury. Its balls are small and can go unnoticed in cracks, carpet fibers or under baseboards. Such inattention can cause the development of chronic poisoning. Because of this, symptoms of mercury poisoning with a broken thermometer may appear after a long time.

If the thermometer is broken, children and animals should be taken out of the room. They are capable of accidentally swallowing a thermometer or spreading them to other rooms. Then you should ventilate the room, but at the same time close the doors to adjacent rooms. Do not allow drafts to occur that can carry mercury throughout the room, making it difficult to collect.
In such a situation, people panic, begin to collect mercury with their hands, or try to vacuum the room. This is not true. If you don’t know how to properly collect mercury, you should call rescuers. They will tell you how to do it correctly.
To collect mercury balls, you need to wear shoe covers, gloves and cover your nose with gauze. Mercury balls stick well to cotton pads or napkins moistened with water, to white bread. You can use tape or adhesive tape. You cannot use a vacuum cleaner for collection, as it will soon become a distributor itself. mercury vapor.
After cleaning, you should check hard-to-reach places, such as all crevices and corners. The collected mercury must be placed in a jar of water, and then taken to a place indicated by the Ministry of Emergency Situations employees.

A broken thermometer carries with it possible consequences. However, they can be avoided if you carefully collect mercury balls in the room and check all hard-to-reach places.

How to determine vapor concentration

It is impossible to determine the amount of mercury in the air on your own and without special instruments. They have no smell or other signs. The presence of metal in the room is determined only when the corresponding symptoms occur, since they can appear within a few minutes.

Vapor concentration is measured special device. If the thermometer breaks, you should call a special service that will measure the indicators and help in collecting and disposing of the substance.

First aid

If poisoning does occur, then before the ambulance arrives, it is necessary to provide emergency assistance. If a person is conscious, then he needs access to fresh air, it is advisable to go outside. If he cannot walk on his own, then assistance must be provided or carried out on a stretcher.

In case of mercury poisoning, gastric lavage is required. To do this, drink a large amount of water and then induce vomiting. After washing, you need to drink activated carbon, the number of tablets is calculated in accordance with the rules. In case of poisoning, you need to drink as much fluid as possible, as the urinary system will speed up the removal of the toxic substance.

These activities will be of great benefit if sulfur is present in the water you drink, egg white or activated carbon. Sulfur converts mercury into particles that become harmless to the body.

The patient must be placed on his side to prevent vomit from entering the respiratory tract if vomiting occurs. For release respiratory tract required lower jaw push the victim forward a little. The tongue must be pulled out to prevent it from retracting and blocking the airway.

There are rarely any medications available at home that can neutralize the toxic effects of mercury.

In addition to these measures, it is necessary to properly collect the mercury if this happened at home when the thermometer was broken, otherwise it will have an effect for a long time.

Treatment

Inpatient treatment is primarily aimed at removing the toxin from the body. At chronic poisoning after hospitalization, sanatorium-resort treatment is required.

Complications

The presence of complications is typical only for the chronic form of poisoning. Most often, complications occur in children and pregnant women. Basically they manifest themselves:

In malfunctions nervous system and the appearance of emotional instability;
In developmental disorder fine motor skills and coordination of movements;
In violation of the urinary system and gastrointestinal tract.

If you do not consult a doctor in a timely manner, this situation can lead to fatal outcome. The faster the poisoned person is treated medical care and begin treatment, the higher the likelihood full recovery and no complications.

Diagnostics

Malaise and other symptoms are precisely mercury poisoning. In this case, everything should be excluded possible diseases showing similar signs.

To diagnose poisoning, the following measures are taken:

Blood and urine test for mercury content. If mercury poisoning really occurs, then there will be mercury particles in the blood and urine. However, it is worth knowing that mercury is detected in tests only 2 weeks after poisoning.
Examination of hair on the head. This method is used to diagnose chronic poisoning. This allows you to determine approximate time the first time mercury enters the body. In a child and an adult, hair normally grows 1.5 cm in a few months. Hair growth will help determine this, since it slows down in case of mercury poisoning.
A special solution injected into the body shows whether mercury is present in the body.

Prevention

To prevent such terrible poisoning, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

Store mercury thermometers out of the reach of children and animals, preferably in a bottle.
If a mercury thermometer is broken, the mercury balls should be collected in accordance with the action algorithm and make sure that all the substance has been collected.
When using fluorescent lamps, their correct and reliable installation is required.
When working near this metal, workers should undergo regular medical examinations.

From all this it is worth concluding that mercury poisoning is a rather serious phenomenon that can lead to death. If symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor or call an ambulance, as this may have irreversible consequences. It is necessary to adhere to the rules of prevention in order to exclude possible poisoning.

If it does happen, then first aid must be indicated in accordance with the algorithm of actions. Since many people use mercury thermometers, you need to know the rules for collecting mercury if the thermometer is broken. Mercury is a rather dangerous substance that can quickly spread throughout a room. Therefore, it is necessary to interact with it with caution and in accordance with the collection rules.

Mercury poisoning occurs not only in industry, but also in everyday life. This metal or its salts contain mercury thermometers, fluorescent lamps, and some medications.

Source: rybnoe.net

Mercury is a heavy metal, the peculiarity of which is that at ordinary room temperature it is not in a solid, but in a liquid aggregate state.

Mercury vapor and its compounds are dangerous, having a cumulative effect. Even small doses of these substances have a pronounced toxic effect on:

eyes;
skin;
lungs;
liver;
kidneys;
immune system;
nervous system;
digestive organs.

Inhalation of mercury vapor in the respiratory tract, its molecules are oxidized and then combine with the sulfhydryl group of proteins. The resulting substances penetrate the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, causing damage to various organs.

Inorganic mercury compounds (salts) can enter the body through the skin or gastrointestinal tract. They have a pronounced irritant effect on the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, which leads to its inflammation and then ulceration. Mercury salts accumulate in:

skin;
intestines;
lungs;
spleen;
bone marrow;
red blood cells;
liver;
Their concentration is especially high in kidney tissue.

Methylated mercury (organic compound) easily penetrates into tissues through digestive tract and skin, quickly overcomes the red blood cell membrane and forms a stable compound with hemoglobin, causing tissue hypoxia. Methylated mercury can accumulate in nerve tissue and kidneys.

Symptoms of poisoning

Symptoms of mercury poisoning will vary from case to case because clinical picture is largely determined by the way the toxic substance enters the body, as well as the duration of contact with it.

Acute mercury vapor poisoning is characterized by:

inflammation of the respiratory tract, occurring as interstitial pneumonitis;
increased mental excitability;
tremor.

For chronic mercury vapor poisoning The nervous system suffers to a greater extent, which leads to the appearance of the following clinical signs:

fatigue;
weight loss, anorexia;
dysfunction gastrointestinal tract;
pronounced tremor of the hands when trying to perform any voluntary movement, which later becomes generalized, i.e., affecting all muscle groups;
development of mercury erethism (high nervous excitability, insomnia, sharp deterioration memory and thought processes, timidity, and in severe poisoning – delirium).

For chronic inorganic mercury poisoning the same symptoms as for chronic intoxication caused by prolonged inhalation of vapors of this metal. But in this case, the clinical picture also includes manifestations of stomatitis, gingivitis, as well as loosening and loss of teeth. Over time, patients experience damage to kidney tissue, which is manifested by the development of nephrotic syndrome.

Exposure to mercury salts on the skin can cause various lesions, from mild erythema to severe forms scaly dermatitis. In children younger age contact skin with inorganic mercury causes the development pink disease(acrodynia), which is often regarded as Kawasaki disease. Other symptoms of poisoning with mercury salts when they enter the body through the skin are:

hypertrichosis;
photosensitivity;
generalized rash;
skin irritation;
profuse sweating, which often leads to desquamation of the surface cells of the skin of the hands and feet.

For acute poisoning with mercury salts, penetrating through the digestive tract are characterized by:

nausea;
vomiting with blood;
stomach ache;
tenesmus;
bloody stool;
necrosis of the intestinal mucosa;
acute kidney necrosis.

Severe poisoning is often accompanied by massive loss of fluid. As a result, the patient develops hypovolemic shock, which can be fatal.

Poisoning with methylated mercury is extremely dangerous. They are accompanied by the following symptoms:

cerebral palsy, the development of which is associated with atrophic processes in the cerebellar cortex and cerebral hemispheres brain;
headaches;
paresthesia;
speech, hearing and vision disorders;
memory loss;
impaired coordination of movements;
erethism;
stupor;
coma.

In case of severe poisoning, death is possible.

Source: depositphotos.com

First aid for mercury poisoning

At acute poisoning metallic mercury vapor the victim should be taken to fresh air, unbutton tight clothing.

In case of acute mercury poisoning that enters the body through the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to urgently rinse the stomach. To do this, you should drink several glasses clean water, and then, pressing on the root of the tongue, induce reflex vomiting.

Drugs with an absorbent effect do not interact with mercury, so there is no point in taking them.

Upon skin contact with mercury or its compounds, they must be thoroughly washed with a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate.

When is medical help needed?

In case of any type of mercury poisoning, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible - either call an ambulance, or independently ensure the delivery of the victim to the hospital.

To bind toxic mercury compounds trapped in digestive system, the patient is prescribed polythiol resins.

At high concentrations of mercury in the blood serum and urine, complex-forming therapy is indicated, for which Dimercaprol and D-penicillamine are prescribed. The main goal of this treatment is to accelerate the excretion of mercury in the urine and reduce the severity of clinical symptoms intoxication.

Possible consequences

Mercury poisoning often has severe course and end with the development of complications. Possible consequences:

disorders of higher mental activity, up to disability;
mercury poisoning during pregnancy can cause the development of various abnormalities in the fetus;
lethal outcome.

Prevention

For prevention household poisoning When dealing with mercury, you should very carefully use any devices (household, medical) containing metallic mercury or its compounds.

If mercury is spilled in a room, you should contact the SES and call a team of specialists in demercurization (mercury removal). If this is not possible, they proceed to demercurization independently.

Collect the spilled mercury in a hermetically sealed container using a pipette or damp cotton balls.
Cover the place where the mercury has poured out generously baking soda or salt, after 2-3 hours remove the powder, thoroughly treat the surface with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Constantly ventilate the room for a week to remove mercury vapor as completely as possible.
It is prohibited to use a vacuum cleaner or broom to clean up mercury, pour collected mercury down the drain, or use and wash clothes and other textiles that have been exposed to mercury - they must be disposed of.

In industries that use mercury compounds in their work, careful monitoring of compliance with safety regulations must be carried out.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

Every person knows perfectly well what it is mercury thermometer, and wonders whether it is possible to be poisoned by mercury from a thermometer, because sometimes, due to carelessness and failure to comply with safety precautions, the device breaks and the contents roll out.

Characteristics of mercury

Mercury is one of the heaviest and hazardous metals. The substance is a silvery liquid, the vapors of which have a high degree of toxicity.

Metallic mercury, the kind found in a thermometer, is not as toxic as its liquid counterpart, but it is quite capable of causing poisoning and causing subsequent health problems.

Conventional thermometers contain about 2 grams of mercury; if it enters the human body in full, this dose is considered fatal. But here everything is individual; the occurrence of poisoning depends on:

body weight;
age;
gender;
room size;
duration of contact with mercury.

Those most vulnerable to mercury exposure are children under 18 years of age, people over 65 years of age, and pregnant women. Mercury vapor has the most negative impact on them.

The risk of poisoning increases due to broken thermometer in a small room. This also happens if the room is very hot or the heaters are on.

If a thermometer was broken in a room and no measures were taken to eliminate mercury, then the possibility of poisoning is close to 100% due to its high concentration and toxicity.

Ways mercury enters the body

Mercury, depending on its concentration, enters the human body in various ways. If the concentration of mercury in the air does not exceed 25 mg/m3, then the metal enters the body through breathing and gradually accumulates in the lung tissue. If the concentration is higher, then you can not only inhale toxic metal, since penetration occurs even through uninjured skin.

When mercury hits the mucous membranes directly, it has a major effect on the liver. Most dangerous consequences occur when the metal enters directly into the bloodstream or through inhalation of vapors. In this case, the liver does not participate in the neutralization of substances that are so dangerous to humans.

Signs of mercury poisoning

If you accidentally break a thermometer, you will most likely get poisoned. Poisoning can occur acutely, subacutely and chronically. Each of these processes has its own characteristics that everyone needs to know.

Acute form of poisoning

This type of poisoning is rare and most often occurs after large-scale industrial accidents. Symptoms appear within a few hours.

Expressed as follows:

unreasonable weakness;
headache;
poor appetite or its complete absence;
noticeable pain when swallowing;
metallic taste in the mouth;
nausea;
change in gum color;
a sharp increase in temperature to 38-39 degrees;
chest pain and chills;
severe abdominal pain;
diarrhea with bloody discharge.

Adults and children have the same signs of mercury poisoning. The only difference is that due to physiological reasons in children they appear somewhat faster; it is difficult for the body of a poisoned child to cope with this condition and he needs immediate help medical workers, since death is most likely.

Subacute form of poisoning

The subacute form is very similar to the acute form, their symptoms are also similar, but also adds:

mercury stomatitis;
signs of kidney damage;
bleeding

Pneumonia and pulmonary edema may also develop. Often, both the gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system are affected.

Chronic form of the disease

This form occurs when a small amount of mercury vapor is periodically ingested for a long time. Usually poisoning occurs after 2-5 months, depending on the concentration of the metal and general condition body.

Symptoms of the chronic form:

high fatigue;
constant drowsiness;
general weakness;
constant dizziness;
emotional disorders, which are characterized by self-doubt, irritability, sudden changes moods.

Frequent signs of the chronic form are decreased attention and memory impairment. arise frequent urge to urination, skin sensitivity worsens, and vision decreases. Most often increases greatly in size thyroid gland and the heart rate goes astray.

A chronic disease can occur after 5-10 years of constant contact with mercury.

What actions should you take if you are poisoned by mercury?

In case of mercury poisoning, you should immediately consult a doctor who will prescribe treatment, but before that you need to take some measures.

First, you need to leave the room in which the thermometer was broken. Go out into the fresh air, drink water.

Now you need to rinse all mucous membranes, namely the eyes, mouth, nose. After this, wash all exposed skin; you can use a non-concentrated solution of ordinary potassium permanganate. This should not be done if you notice disturbances in the functioning of the respiratory system or cardiovascular system. If violations are noticed, then it is necessary to eliminate the threat to life and carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation, relief or stop bleeding.

After going to the hospital, periodic gastric lavage with a tube will most likely be prescribed. This is done several times during the day; this action weakens the effect of the metal on the internal organs.

An antidote is injected intravenously or intramuscularly, which washes out toxic compounds from the blood.

Diagnosis of poisoning

You can accurately determine whether there is poisoning using a number of special medical tests:

Perform a free hemoglobin test. In case of poisoning, its level becomes significantly lower than the established norm, the same happens with red blood cells and leukocytes.
It is necessary to do a test for the concentration of mercury in the blood; symptoms appear if the blood contains more than 500 ng/ml.
A urine test will help detect poisoning within a few days; poisoning occurs when the mercury content exceeds 600 ng/ml.

Consequences of mercury poisoning

If you do not provide timely treatment for mercury poisoning, then negative consequences for a person will certainly arise.

Here are the most serious of them:

At severe poisoning absence timely treatment leads to death.
People with chronic form poisoning gradually becomes psychologically disabled and can't live full life in a normal society.
If a pregnant woman is poisoned, this can lead to the development of pathologies in the fetus and even its death.

What to do if the thermometer is broken?

Remove all people and animals from the premises.
Make a solution of potassium permanganate and pour it into a glass jar with a lid that tightly closes the vessel.
It is necessary to wear rubberized gloves and a gauze or medical mask to avoid inhaling mercury vapor.
Using sheets of paper, tape and adhesive tape, collect the mercury balls without touching them with your hands and collect them in a paper envelope.
Treat the surface with the prepared solution.
Place the mercury in a paper envelope in a jar and call the Ministry of Emergency Situations for advice on what to do with this vessel.
After cleaning, check again for the absence of mercury beads; if you are absolutely sure that there are none, then be sure to thoroughly ventilate the room.

Many people broke thermometers in the house. If you break a thermometer, you should not throw the thermometer and mercury down the drain or use it when cleaning detergents, touch mercury with exposed skin, wash and subsequently use clothing in which you came into contact with mercury.

How to detect excess mercury in the air?

Of course the best option will periodically call a special commission, which, using professional instruments, will take measurements.

You can also purchase paper impregnated special solution. By observing the reaction, you can easily determine whether there is an excess permissible norm. The cost of such a household test is about 150 rubles, therefore, it is quite affordable for any average person.

Prevention of poisoning

To prevent the possibility of mercury poisoning, the following preventive measures must be taken:

If you accidentally break a thermometer, be sure to check everything necessary measures to eliminate toxic metal.
People whose profession involves frequent contact with mercury should periodically rinse their mouths with a permanganate solution during and after their shift.
In case of poisoning, you need to remember that egg white is an antidote that should be taken orally at the first sign.

Be careful when handling items containing mercury. And if you happen to be in contact with this metal, then take all safety measures.

Mercury is a heavy metal that is widely used in medicine and industry. IN normal conditions is in a liquid state with active evaporation. Poisoning by this substance is not uncommon; people who come into contact with mercury-containing drugs and devices are susceptible to it. Intoxication occurs not due to interaction with the metal itself, but with its vapors, which abound in rooms where a thermometer or mercury lamp was broken.

Uses of mercury

Despite its toxic properties, mercury has been found wide application in different industries:

chemical;
metallurgy;
military-industrial complex;
heavy engineering;
electrical engineering;
instrument making;
oil refining

Even in agriculture, heavy metal has found its place - it is used to treat seeds. But for most people, mercury is firmly associated with thermometers and fluorescent lamps. And it is their damage that is “culpable” in most cases of mercury vapor poisoning.

Main routes of mercury poisoning

Ambient natural environment although it contains mercury and its vapors, their concentration is too low to cause even mild poisoning. Typically, poisoning occurs as a result of improper handling of substances or devices containing mercury or its compounds, including:

household appliances and tools. These include thermometers (one device contains about 2 g of liquid metal), gas-discharge lamps, DRSh, DRL (contain several tens of milligrams of mercury, depending on the model);
medical drugs and accessories. Among them are some vaccines and antidotes in which mercury plays the role of a preservative. Other sources of infection include dental fillings with amalgam;
seafood. Fish accumulate mercury, and in some cases the concentration of mercury exceeds its content in sea water several tens of times.

There are also many man-made sources of contamination: daguerreotype (an ancient method of photography, now practically not used), burning gas and coal in industrial scale, breakdown of industrial mercury pumps, pressure gauges and other equipment containing a hazardous substance. Most of the industrial equipment with mercury is outdated and is not used today, but some enterprises continue to operate it due to a lack of funding.

Most often, a person is poisoned by mercury when a household thermometer is damaged. 2 g of mercury can be fatal if ingested, but if spilled metal is cleaned up quickly, the risk of acute poisoning is reduced. If mercury is not removed, or not completely removed, the accumulation of vapors continues for several months and sometimes years.

Women and children are especially vulnerable to the effects of mercury vapor.

Signs of mercury poisoning

Mercury vapor intoxication is divided into two types:

spicy. It is quite rare and is associated with industrial accidents resulting in the spilling of large amounts of metal. It appears quickly, and deaths are common;
chronic. Occurs during prolonged contact with metal vapors, for example, due to insufficient cleaning after a broken thermometer or lamp. Mercury accumulation can continue for months and sometimes years.

The symptoms of poisoning are the same in both cases, but the speed of their development is different. General signs intoxications in the order of their occurrence:

asthenic syndrome. Appears as chronic fatigue and drowsiness. Memory decreases, the person becomes irritable. Headaches are common;
mercury tremor. Expressed in constant trembling of the tongue, fingers, in rare cases the whole body (typical of acute poisoning). If measures are not taken, convulsions develop, after which coma may occur;
attack of hypotension. A decrease in pressure is accompanied by weakness, dizziness, sweating, and sometimes an increase in body temperature. Sharp decline pressure can lead to vascular collapse;
metallic taste in the mouth;
the gums acquire a bright red tint, which is later replaced by a dark coating;
abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. These symptoms of mercury poisoning are associated with the formation of ulcers in the intestines and stomach. Internal bleeding may also occur;
non-infectious pneumonia. In acute poisoning, it is accompanied by hemoptysis;
renal and liver failure. Develops gradually during chronic intoxication as it accumulates harmful substances in organs.

The symptoms listed above are average. Each body has an individual sensitivity to toxins, so some people develop all these symptoms, while others suffer, for example, only vomiting and low blood pressure. In addition, symptoms of mercury poisoning are characteristic of exposure to other heavy metals and some organic poisons.

The exact cause of the malaise can only be determined by a blood test - 180 mcg/l or more of mercury indicates intoxication.

First aid for mercury poisoning

If the victim has obvious signs mercury poisoning, you need to provide first aid by first calling an ambulance.

if respiratory or cardiac activity is impaired, resuscitation measures must be started ( indirect massage hearts, artificial respiration) and carry them out until spontaneous breathing and heartbeat resume;
rinse the mucous membranes of the mouth and nasal cavity with a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate.

Medical assistance for mercury poisoning is necessary in all cases. emergency situation testify:

severe bleeding from the mouth;
loss of consciousness;
intense abdominal pain;
signs of pulmonary edema.

Don't:

If mercury is swallowed, perform gastric lavage at home;
use activated carbon. In this case, it is useless - it does not bind mercury, the poisoning is not stopped, and a lot of time is wasted.

The patient is hospitalized, further therapy is carried out in a hospital setting under the constant supervision of doctors.

Treatment of mercury poisoning

The main task is to remove the toxic substance from the body. The faster this is done, the lower the risk of developing complications, which can be very dangerous, including the death of the patient. If urine and blood tests show high concentration mercury is used:

Dimercaprol;
D-penicillamine.

These drugs bind mercury and accelerate its excretion in the urine.

If mercury poisoning occurs as a result of ingestion, gastric lavage should be done. In the clinic, polythiol resins are used for this, which bind the metal and facilitate its exit from the body, preventing the further development of intoxication. Gastric lavage during treatment of mercury poisoning is done exclusively in a hospital.

For chronic poisoning the following are used:

N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine;
D-penicillamine.

The principle of action of these drugs is similar - they form complexes with mercury, binding it, and in this form removing it from the body, however, these drugs can cope with a large number mercury accumulated in the body.

Complications and consequences of mercury poisoning

If you do not apply for it in a timely manner qualified help and do not reduce the concentration of the toxic substance in the body, the consequences of mercury poisoning can be extremely severe. The risk of complications is especially high for people suffering from illnesses immune system, oncological diseases, blood pathologies, children and pregnant women.

Mercury intoxication can cause the following disorders:

mental disorders;
persistent dysfunction of the digestive system;
damage to the kidneys and liver, up to the development of renal/liver failure;
Minamata disease (damage to the central nervous system with loss of coordination, hearing, vision and speech impairment).

Severe mercury poisoning can be fatal.

In pregnant women, mercury intoxication can result in serious pathologies of the fetus, and the risk of stillbirth increases.

Prevention

The main recommendation is to avoid contact with dangerous substances if possible. But this may not always be the case, especially for those people who work in chemical industry and metallurgy. A few rules that will reduce the risk of poisoning to a minimum:

Handle household thermometers and fluorescent lamps carefully. It sounds trivial, but most mercury poisoning occurs due to mercury damage;
If a device containing mercury is broken, the metal should be removed as quickly as possible. The room is wet cleaned, mercury balls are placed in a hermetically sealed container with water. It is strictly forbidden to remove mercury with a vacuum cleaner! The best option– contact the SES and call a demercurization specialist.
If you come into contact with mercury, rinse your mouth with potassium chlorate. People working with toxic substances are recommended to do this daily at the end of their work shift.

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