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Essay / Definition and exposure to mercury
Mercury, also known as metallic mercury or mercury, can be found in two states, in liquid form at a normal room temperature of 25°C. or in vapor form. When mercury is in a vapor state, it tends to be more dangerous than when it is in a liquid state. Mercury will form Hg+ and Hg+2 salts when bound to other elements such as oxygen and chlorine. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayMercury occurs naturally as a vapor and can be found on the earth's crust when outgassed. It can also form from eruptions of certain volcanoes and the evaporation of ocean water. It can also be produced by burning coal and smelting certain metals. Mercury is also found in very low concentrations in air, food and water. Mercury exposure can occur in 3 ways: The first is dietary exposure, mainly through eating fish, a person will be exposed to a large amount of organic mercury (especially methylmercury), while inorganic mercury will be found in other foods. Occupational exposure, which is the second route of exposure, typically occurs among workers who work in a chlor-alkali industry when they inhale mercury vapors while they work. It can also occur during the manufacture of certain instruments, during gold mining, and dentists are also exposed to it when preparing mercury amalgam fillings. The third route of exposure is accidental exposure, it is due to broken containers and barometers containing mercury, also from repetitive exposures. exposure to amalgam fillings during a visit to the dentist. Symptoms may vary depending on the form of mercury; at high concentrations, mercury vapors when inhaled will cause bronchitis, inorganic mercury (which can be found in tattoo inks) will damage the renal tubules in the kidneys, while methylmercury tends to be neurotoxic, this which can progress to coma and ultimately death. .Symptoms of inhaling mercury vapor may vary with short- or long-term exposure. With short-term exposure, symptoms may include coughing, chest pain, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, increased blood pressure, eye problems, and a sort of metallic taste in the eye. the mouth. In case of long-term exposure, anorexia, anxiety, insomnia, tremors and loss of appetite. One of the most important toxicity mechanisms that produces cell death/injury inside the cell is the high binding affinity of the protein group -SH. Other mechanisms include increased oxidative stress, decreased glutathione levels, and mitochondrial damage. Urine and blood samples are used to check if a person has been exposed to mercury, with urine being most preferable when testing for elemental mercury. Preferably, urine samples should be collected once in the morning after waking up or over a 24-hour period. Blood samples may be taken after a long period of time (up to 3 days) to test for exposure to high levels of mercury. So, what should you do if someone is exposed to mercury? The person must be immediately removed from the exposure area. Once admitted to the hospital, she will receive intensive care from the doctor and nurses in addition to chelation therapy to try to eliminate the mercury from her body. women.