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Table 2 Cases of elemental and inorganic mercury exposure (n = 41) Symptoms and signs organ related vs. Hg blood concentraton

From: Alternative drugs go global: possible lead and/ or mercury intoxication from imported natural health products and a need for scientifically evaluated poisoning monitoring from environmental exposures

Symptoms/signs

Mercury concentration in blood

Organ top groups

Sub-groups

≤25 μg/L

≤ 300 μg/L

≤ 3000 μg/L

Gastrointestinal

 

X

x

 

abdominal pain

X

x

Neurological

 

X

 

x

disorders of consciousness

 

x

 

neuropathy

X

x

headache

  

sweating disturbance

X

x

sleeping disturbance

X

x

memory disturbance

 

x

Neuro-psychosocial

 

X

x

x

personality disorder

X

x

 

depression

 

x

weakness

X

x

lost of weight

X

x

thirst

 

x

Muscle/ skeleton/teeth

 

X

x

 

muscle pain

X

x

teeth disorders

 

x

Cardio- vascular/blood

 

X

x

 

cardiomyopathy

 

x

body temp. elevated

X

x

panmyelopathy

X

 

blood count disorders

X

x

Respiratory

 

X

x

 

pneumo thorax

 

x

hypoventilation

X

x

acidosis

 

x

Liver/Kidney

 

X

  

hepatomegaly

 

x

kidney disorders

X

x

Skin

   

x

necrosis

X

x

alopecia

X

x

Eye

    

eye disorders

X

x

  1. 41 cases with elemental and inorganic Hg, reported to the BfR DocCenter were analysed. The cases were evaluated by the BfR expert judgement and were assesses regarding dose against the BfR standardised symptoms and signs, followed by the Poison Severity Score. The causality exposure vs symptoms was assessed by the BfR “Three-Level-Model”