Fact-checked by Lucent 3 months ago
Total Sources: 48
Verified Claims: 42
Scientific Sources: 23
Mercury is a naturally occurring heavy metal found in various forms, including elemental, inorganic, and organic compounds, with methylmercury being the most common form of organic mercury exposure for humans [26]. It is considered by the World Health Organization as one of the top ten chemicals of major public health concern [6], [13].
A human skeleton dating from 5000 BCE was found covered in vermillion (cinnabar, HgS) [15].
Aristotle referred to mercury as “fluid silver” and “quicksilver,” and alchemists believed it gave metals their “metal-ness” [15].
Mercury was used to extract gold through amalgamation [15].
Fahrenheit invented the mercury thermometer [15].
Mercury fulminate was first used as a detonator for explosives [15].
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was first produced, using mercury as a catalyst [15].
Thomas Edison’s incandescent lamp contained mercury [15].
H.Y. Castner discovered mercury could be used in the chlor-alkali process [15].
The Ruben-Mallory battery (mercury dry-cell battery) was invented and widely used during WWII [15].
The use of mercury in paint was phased out in the US [15].
Mercury exposure can lead to various health issues, including neurological, respiratory, and cardiovascular disorders [6].
Mercury can cause kidney damage, vision damage, hormonal imbalances, miscarriages, and reproductive disorders [6].
Methylmercury, a common form of mercury, can accumulate in the food chain, particularly in fish, posing a risk to human health [26], [27].
Exposure to mercury during pregnancy can have detrimental effects on fetal development, leading to congenital defects and developmental delays [5], [26].
EFSA Journal, 2012: Scientific Opinion on the risk for public health related to the presence of mercury and methylmercury in food
Established a tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for inorganic mercury of 4 µg/kg body weight (b.w.) and a TWI for methylmercury of 1.3 µg/kg b.w., expressed as mercury. Unborn children constitute the most vulnerable group [2].
WHO Food Additives Series, 2011: Safety evaluation of certain contaminants in food
Established a provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) for inorganic mercury of 4 µg/kg bw. The previous PTWI of 5 µg/kg bw for total mercury was withdrawn [4], [10].
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025: Mercury Exposure and Health Effects: What Do We Really Know?
Mercury and its forms, even in the smallest doses, cause numerous disorders to the body, including to the nervous system, the respiratory system, and the cardiovascular system. It can cause disorders such as various cancers; endothelial dysfunction; gastric and vascular disorders; liver, kidney, and brain damage; hormonal imbalances, miscarriages, and reproductive disorders; skin lesions; vision damage; and even death [6].
Environmental Research, 2021: Mercury exposure, cardiovascular disease, and mortality: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis
Chronic exposure to Hg was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and fatal/nonfatal IHD. The risk of multiple cardiovascular endpoints starts to increase consistently at a hair Hg concentration of 2 μg/g [8].
Emerging Contaminants, 2023: Toxicological risk in individuals exposed to methylmercury and total mercury through daily-consumed foodstuffs in one of the mining regions of Bajo Cauca, Antioquia, Colombia
The highest amount of Hg was found in fish > pork > chicken > cassava > plantain > yam (ranging from 207.87 to 0.23 μg/g). MeHg was identified in cassava > fish > plantain > chicken > yam > pork in amounts ranging from 1.567 to 0.434 μg/g [11].
Low-mercury fish
To reduce mercury intake while still benefiting from the nutritional value of fish, opt for seafood lower in mercury, such as salmon, shrimp, pollock, and catfish [23], [27], [37].
Plant-based protein sources
Replace some fish consumption with plant-based proteins to reduce mercury exposure [22].
9.
https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/sites/static/files/2015-06/documents/ny_hh_202_f_03121998.pdf18.
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/health-fraud-scams/skin-products-containing-mercury-andor-hydroquinone22.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/seafood-selections-that-help-your-heart-and-our-planet