Elemental mercury accumulation in Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms-Laubach.

The aquatic macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes has great potential for the control of Hg pollution in the environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the capability of E. crassipes to accumulate elemental mercury (Hg0). The plants were exposed for 30 days to 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg of Hg0 in a 1-L Hoagland medium with the Hg0 settled at the bottom of the flask. The roots of the plants did not touch the mercury during the treatment. After exposure, the total Hg (T-Hg) concentrations in the roots, leaves, and stems were measured using a direct mercury (Hg) analyzer. The highest concentrations were found at 80 mg Hg0 treatment in the roots, leaves, and stems, in that order. The translocation factor indicated a poor capability of Hg to translocate from the roots to the shoots. The relative growth and the root-length inhibition measurements showed that the differences between Hg0 treatments were not significant. In addition, the treatments negatively affected the chlorophyll concentration. The carotenoid content was found to be significantly different at 20 and 40 mg of Hg0 in 1 L. Regarding the carbonyl index in root proteins, significant differences compared to control were found at the highest Hg treatment. Based on these results, it was shown that E. crassipes is able to take up elemental Hg from Hoagland medium. However, the Hg0 treatments did not show a strong stress-response activation mechanism in the evaluated plant tissues.

Health risk assessment of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) in Mexico City.

Emissions of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM or Hg0) from different sources in urban areas are important subjects for environmental investigations. In this study, atmospheric Hg measurements were conducted to investigate air pollution in the urban environment by carrying out several mobile surveys in Mexico City. This work presents atmospheric concentrations of GEM in terms of diurnal variation trends and comparisons with criteria for pollutant concentrations such as CO, SO2, NO2, PM2.5, and PM10. The concentration of GEM was measured during the pre-rainy period by using a high-resolution active air sampler, the Lumex RA 915 M mercury analyzer. In comparison with those for other cities worldwide, the GEM concentrations were similar or slightly elevated, and they ranged from 0.20 to 30.23 ng m-3. However, the GEM concentration was significantly lower than those in contaminated areas, such as fluorescent lamp factory locations and gold mining zones. The GEM concentrations recorded in Mexico City did not exceed the WHO atmospheric limit of 200 ng m-3. We performed statistical correlation analysis which suggests equivalent sources between Hg and other atmospheric pollutants, mainly NO2 and SO2, emitted from urban combustion and industrial plants. The atmospheric Hg emissions are basically controlled by sunlight radiation, as well as having a direct relationship with meteorological parameters. The area of the city studied herein is characterized by high traffic density, cement production, and municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment, which constantly release GEM into the atmosphere. In this study, we included the simulation with the HYSPLIT dispersion model from three potential areas of GEM release. Emissions from industrial corridors and volcanic plumes localized outside the urban area contribute to the pollution of Mexico City and mainly affect the northern area during specific periods and climate conditions. Using the USEPA model, we assessed the human health risk resulting from exposure to inhaled GEM among residents of Mexico City. The results of the health risk assessment indicated no significant noncarcinogenic risk (hazard quotient (HQ) < 1) or consequent adverse effects for children and adults living in the sampling area over the study period. GEM emissions inventory data is necessary to improve our knowledge about the Hg contribution and effect in urban megacity areas with the objective to develop public safe policy and implementing the Minamata Convention.

[Subcutaneous injection of metallic mercury. The importance of early removal]. / Inyección subcutánea de mercurio elemental. Importancia de la remoción precoz.

Accidental or intentional subcutaneous or intramuscular injection of metallic mercury is an uncommon form of intoxication. We present the case of a 22 year-old man, who had psychotic disorders and autoaggressive behavior, with a preceding history of self-injection of mercury into the soft tissues of the neck, thorax and abdomen. Clinical examination, radiographs, and computed tomography showed the affected area. Mercury was measured in blood and urine. The mercury was surgically resected from the affected areas. Early detection and removal of mercury from the body by physical removal or chelation is required to prevent short- and long-term toxicity.

Inyección subcutánea de mercurio elemental. Importancia de la remoción precoz / Subcutaneous injection of metallic mercury. The importance of early removal

La inyección subcutánea o intramuscular de mercurio elemental, sea accidental o intencional, es una forma poco frecuente de intoxicación. Presentamos el caso de un hombre de 22 años de edad, con antecedentes de rasgos psicóticos y lesiones autolíticas, que se inyectó mercurio elemental en el tejido celular subcutáneo del cuello, tórax y abdomen, tres meses antes de su internación. Las áreas afectadas fueron localizadas mediante el examen físico, radiografías y tomografías. Se realizó el dosaje de mercurio en sangre y orina. Se resecó quirúrgicamente el mercurio de las zonas comprometidas. La detección y remoción precoz del mercurio, mediante cirugía y eventual quelación, es necesaria para prevenir complicaciones a corto y largo plazo.

Accidental or intentional subcutaneous or intramuscular injection of metallic mercury is an uncommon form of intoxication. We present the case of a 22 year-old man, who had psychotic disorders and autoaggressive behavior, with a preceding history of self-injection of mercury into the soft tissues of the neck, thorax and abdomen. Clinical examination, radiographs, and computed tomography showed the affected area. Mercury was measured in blood and urine. The mercury was surgically resected from the affected areas. Early detection and removal of mercury from the body by physical removal or chelation is required to prevent short- and long-term toxicity.

Descripción del perfil neuropsicológico de cuatro casos con intoxicación por mercurio elemental / Description of the neuropsychological profile of four cases with elemental mercury poisoning

El mercurio elemental, es un metal tóxico líquido a temperatura ambiente; sus vapores son absorbidos por el organismo humano y atraviesa fácilmente la barrera hematonencefálica. Su exposición crónica genera una intoxicación que lleva al cuadro clínico llamado eretismo mercurial, caracterizado por cambios comportamentales, cognitivos y motores. Los efectos a largo plazo de la intoxicación por mercurio elemental no ha sido ampliamente documentada, razón por la cual el objetivo del presente estudio es describir el perfil neuropsicológico secundario a un cuadro de intoxicación por mercurio elemental, en un grupo familiar después de un tiempo de evolución de 20 años. Se realizó una evaluación neuropsicológica a cuatro sujetos intoxicados por mercurio elemental encontrando alteraciones en la atención ejecutiva, memoria operativa, memoria verbal a corto plazo, memoria visual, procesamiento viso construccional, fluidez semántica y fonológica, velocidad de procesamiento, altas implicaciones en las funciones ejecutivas, conductas comportamentales de predominio frontal y depresión. Se concluye que generalmente las alteraciones son permanentes en el tiempo de evolución de la patología y que no existe diferenciación en las funciones cognitivas afectadas, independientemente del ciclo vital por el cual atraviese la persona al momento de padecer la intoxicación...

Elemental mercury is a toxic metal liquid at room temperature. Whose vapours are absorbed by the human organism and readily crosses the blood-brain barrier. Its chronic exposition leads to erethismmercurialis, a neurological disorder characterized by behavioural, cognitive and motor changes. Long-term effects of mercurial poisoning are not widely documented; the aim of the present study is to describe the neuropsychological profile of a family, poisoned by elemental mercury 20 years ago. Cognitive deficits in executive attention, working memory, short-term verbal memory, visual memory, visuo constructional processing, semantic fluency, processing speed, elicited deficits in executive functions, frontal behavioural conducts and depression where found. It is concluded, that generally in chronic poisoning the deficits are permanent in time and that there are not differences on the cognitive deficits, independently of the cycle of life in which the person is at the moment when the poisoning occurs...

Intoxicación familiar por mercurio elemental: caso clínico / Family poisoned by elemental mercury: a case report

Introduction: mercury is a heavy metal widely dispersed in nature, occurring in three chemical forms. Exposure to mercury at work sites and even at home may be clinically significant. Objective: to update the knowledge about the risks of this toxic element. Case report: the case of a teenager and his family poisoned by elemental mercury is reported. The diagnostic process was difficult, mainly due to an initial presumption of probable infectious etiology, unavailability of key anamnestic data and unusual clinical behavior, with signs and symptoms of multisystem compromise (neurological, hepatic, renal and dermatological compromise). Discussion: the study was based on literature review of various clinical presentations regarding this poisoning and its management, emphasizing the need for dimercaptosuccinic acid chelator. As a major public health problem, the importance of education and implementation of public policies to have a mercury-free environment is discussed.

Introducción: el mercurio es un metal pesado ampliamente distribuido en el medio ambiente, en sus tres formas químicas. La exposición a dicho metal en recintos laborales e incluso en el hogar, puede llegar a ser clínicamente significativa. Objetivo: actualizar el conocimiento acerca de los riesgos de este tóxico. Caso clínico: se presenta el caso clínico de un adolescente y su familia intoxicados por mercurio elemental, cuyo proceso diagnóstico fue difícil, principalmente por la presunción inicial de una probable etiología infecciosa, falta de disponibilidad de datos anamnésticos claves y el inusual comportamiento clínico, con signos y síntomas de compromiso multisistémico (neurológico, hepático, renal y dermatológico). Discusión: se revisa la literatura en relación a las diversas formas de presentación clínica de esta intoxicación y su manejo, destacando la utilidad del quelante ácido dimercaptosuccínico. Por ser un importante problema de salud pública, se destaca la trascendencia de la educación e implementación de políticas públicas por un ambiente libre de mercurio.

Mercurio elemental en apéndice cecal / Elemental mercury in cecal appendix

El mercurio es un elemento químico metal que se ha utilizado con fines empíricos hasta la actualidad. Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 25 años, (Jaén) que ingresó por dolor en hipocondrio derecho que se irradiaba a fosa iliaca derecha. Consumió sustancia líquida ("azogue") para calmar síntomas. Despierta, hemodinámicamente estable. Murphy (+) y Mc Burney (+). Casualmente en un estudio radiológico abdominal, se observaron imágenes radioopacas puntiformes y una imagen de mayor tamaño, digitiforme tanto de pie como en decúbito. Se realizó apendicectomía profiláctica. Posteriormente se extrajo mercurio líquido del lumen apendicular. El médico debe conocer la medicina tradicional, sus propiedades y efectos adversos.(AU)

Mercury is a metal chemical element that has been used with empiric purposes up to date. A case of a 25 year old woman is presented; (Jaen) which was admitted for right upper quadrant pain that radiated to the right iliac fossa. She consumed a liquid substance ("quicksilver") to ease symptoms. Awake, hemodynamically stable. Murphy (+) and McBurney (+) Coincidentally, abdominal radiographs showed punctate radiopaque images and a larger image, digitiform both standing and lying. Prophylactic appendectomy was performed. Subsequently, liquid mercury was extracted from the appendiceal lumen. Doctors must be familiar with traditional medicine, their properties and effects(AU)

A review of events that expose children to elemental mercury in the United States: [review] / Uma revisão dos eventos que expõem as crianças ao elemento mercúrio nos Estados Unidos: [revisão]

Concern for children exposed to elemental mercury prompted the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review the sources of elemental mercury exposures in children, describe the location and proportion of children affected, and make recommendations on how to prevent these exposures. In this review, we excluded mercury exposures from coal-burning facilities, dental amalgams, fish consumption, medical waste incinerators, or thimerosal-containing vaccines. We reviewed federal, state, and regional programs with data on mercury releases along with published reports of children exposed to elemental mercury in the United States. We selected all mercury-related events that were documented to expose (or potentially expose) children. Primary exposure locations were at home, at school, and at others such as industrial property not adequately remediated or medical facilities. Exposure to small spills from broken thermometers was the most common scenario; however, reports of such exposures are declining. The information reviewed suggests that most releases do not lead to demonstrable harm if the exposure period is short and the mercury is properly cleaned up. Primary prevention should include health education and policy initiatives.

Uma preocupação pela exposição de crianças ao elemento mercúrio estimulou a Agência para Substâncias Tóxicas e Registro de Doenças e os Centros para Controle e Prevenção de Doenças a rever as fontes de exposição a este elemento por crianças, descrever a locação e proporção de crianças afetadas e fazer recomendações de como prevenir essas exposições. Nesta análise, foi excluída a exposição a mercúrio em instalações de queima de carvão, amálgamas dentários, consumo de peixes, incineradores de lixo hospitalar ou vacinas contendo timerosal. Analisamos programas regionais, estaduais e federais com dados sobre liberação de mercúrio, juntamente com relatórios de crianças expostas ao elemento nos Estados Unidos. Selecionamos todos os eventos relacionados ao mercúrio que documentaram exposição (ou potencial exposição) de crianças. As principais localidades de exposição foram em casa, na escola e outras como indústrias não adequadas ou instalações médicas. A exposição a pequenos derramamentos de termômetros quebrados foram o cenário mais comum; todavia, relatos de tais exposições estão diminuindo. A informação analisada sugere que a maior parte dos comunicados não conduz a danos demonstráveis se o período de exposição for curto e o mercúrio for devidamente limpo. A prevenção primária deve incluir educação em saúde e iniciativas de políticas.