Those so exposed would in time develop uncontrollable twitches and trembles, making them appear demented to the casual observer.Įven though there exists a strong tie between mercury poisoning and strange behavior in those long-ago hatters, it's still more than likely the term we now toss about so casually did Hat makers who day after day handled mercury-soaked fabric risked mercury poisoning, a condition that affects the nervous systems. The process required copious amounts of the element, a substance then not understood to be as dangerous as we now know it to be. Origins: In the 18th century, mercury salts were used to make felt for fancy hats.
Mercury poisoning at a home day care center – Hillsborough county, Florida, 2015.Claim: Working each day with mercury-soaked felt turned hat makers crazy, hence the phrase 'mad as a hatter.' NIOSH backgrounder: Alice's mad hatter and work-related illness.A challenging case of acute mercury toxicity. Mercury-induced neurotoxicity and neuroprotective effects of berberine. Five hundred years of mercury exposure and adaptation. Cases of acute mercury poisoning by mercury vapor exposure during the demolition of a fluorescent lamp factory. Biomarkers of mercury toxicity: Past, present and future trends. Mercury toxicity and treatment: A review of the literature. Toxic effects of mercury on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. We link primary sources - including studies, scientific references, and statistics - within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles.
Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. To prevent mercury poisoning, fishing has been prohibited in more than 3,000 lakes in the U.S. Tuna, swordfish, and shark are more likely than other varieties to contain high concentrations of mercury. It is possible to get mercury poisoning by eating contaminated fish.
Volcanic activity can cause mercury to enter the water, where it becomes methylmercury, and contaminate fish. Mercury is a naturally occurring element in the Earth’s crust. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) state that these types of fillings are safe, starting at 6 years of age.Īlso, a person might be exposed to mercury through broken thermometers or blood pressure monitors.Ī person may also be exposed to mercury at work, such as in factories or workshops that produce batteries, lamps, or light bulbs. If a person has a cavity, a dentist may fill it with amalgam - a mixture of metals that contains mercury.Īccording to a 2012 review, each filling releases up to 28 micrograms of mercury a day, and the body absorbs 80% of this. The three most common sources of exposure to mercury are: Organic: A person can be exposed to mercury in their diet.Inorganic: A person may be exposed through their job or through contact with mercury in dental fillings or cosmetics, for example.The World Health Organization (WHO) explain that exposure to mercury may be:
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