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How Does Mercury Toxicity Work?

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Posted on Tue, 16 Dec 2014
Question: Dear Sir.

May I ask about the mechanism of metal related organic chemical toxicant such as dimethlymercury or etc.
I still don’t understand the mechanism of metal related toxicant.
For example,
If small amount of mercury related toxicants enter into neuron cells and prohibit some cell function such as recovering from oxidation, but people only could feel some symptoms but people don’t die, What I want to know is we already know that mercury could not be detoxified by enzyme or white blood cell or etc directly… need time to be excreted..
I think that time (40-90days) is enough for cell to make die and finally people die.
As far as I know the molecular mechanism of mercury toxicity involves its unique ability to irreversibly inhibit activities of selenoenzymes, But people don’t die..(Why?)
That means the number of our neuron cells is enough, so small number of neuron cell death from mercury is not so major event for human
Or
That means if mercury wants to stop the function of cell and make cell die, a lot of mercury is needed (One mercury in One cell is not enough… Three or four mercuric are needed in one cell? even though one mercury could not be detoxified and stay long and blocking the functions…)
     Is neuron fine while mercury stay in cell for a while
So What I want to know is what is wrong in my thought.
If there is new toxicant such like metal related toxicant.
They enter into neuron cell and block or prohibit some function of cell,
And as we could know from mercury case, people cannot die directly, but this toxin could not detoxified by enzyme for a long time…
And our cell is gradually lose their function and die in 3 or 4 month later…
If our cell could be die in 3 or 4 days later after losing some minor function by toxicant, I totally understand later death is not possible….
But as we can see the metal related toxin case, people cannot die directly….
Pls. explain me what I misunderstand.
Thank you very much.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Below are the details of mercury toxicity

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for getting back.

I have noted your thought process regarding mercury toxicity. Following details would help you understand the effect of mercury toxicity on neutrons better:

The type of mercury that affects the nervous system most is the methyl mercury, a type of organic mercury, which can penetrate the central nervous system. Other forms of mercury such as elemental mercury and inorganic mercury penetrates the nervous system very poorly.

Mercury incapacitates the key enzymes involved in cellular stress response, protein repair and oxidative damage prevention.

The effects depend on the amount of mercury as well as the root of entry of mercury. Ingested or inhaled mercury produces immediate symptoms, whereas exposure through the skin can present even after a 3-4 months.

Also, large amount of mercury exposure can be lethal, whereas small amounts would not lead to death.

I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.

Wishing you good health,

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (7 hours later)
Thank you for your answer.
So my assumption (toxicant which is very lipid soluble and has no specfic fuction to prohibit or blocking the neuron or cell receptor or enzyme or etc.. only stay in for a while... and then gradually cell or neuron is weaker and weaker because of that toxicant which stay in cell and finally 3-4month cell or neuron die...
Is it impossbile? cannot stay in or gradually making cell die is impossible without no direction to cell or neuron?
Thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Yes.

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.

Yes, it is unlikely for the toxicant to stay in the cell or neuron and cause damage or death slowly over time, unless there is continued exposure of toxicant over a long period of time.

Best wishes,

Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sudhir Kumar

Neurologist

Practicing since :1994

Answered : 6232 Questions

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How Does Mercury Toxicity Work?

Brief Answer: Below are the details of mercury toxicity Detailed Answer: Hi, Thank you for getting back. I have noted your thought process regarding mercury toxicity. Following details would help you understand the effect of mercury toxicity on neutrons better: The type of mercury that affects the nervous system most is the methyl mercury, a type of organic mercury, which can penetrate the central nervous system. Other forms of mercury such as elemental mercury and inorganic mercury penetrates the nervous system very poorly. Mercury incapacitates the key enzymes involved in cellular stress response, protein repair and oxidative damage prevention. The effects depend on the amount of mercury as well as the root of entry of mercury. Ingested or inhaled mercury produces immediate symptoms, whereas exposure through the skin can present even after a 3-4 months. Also, large amount of mercury exposure can be lethal, whereas small amounts would not lead to death. I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information. Wishing you good health, Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in