Your Mercury Exposure Your Mercury Exposure Important Information for People Exposed to Mercury at Work, at Home, and in the Community February 1997 This publication has advice and information to help you find out how you have been exposed to mercury and protect yourself from further exposure. You Sick Repeated exposure to breathing mercury metal vapor affects the human brain, spinal cord, eyes, and kidneys . Swallowing mercury compounds can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea . Severe kidney damage can occur.
Some mercury compounds can cause irritation of the skin and eyes on contact.
If a pregnant woman eats large amounts of fish contaminated with methylmercury , her unborn child may develop damage to vision, hearing, taste, smell, memory, and mental ability . Infants and children are also at high risk from methylmercury-contaminated fish and possibly breast milk. Very high exposure to breathing mercury metal vapor in the air can poison quickly . Symptoms begin with cough, chest pain, trouble breathing, and upset stomach. Chemical pneumonia, which can be fatal, can then develop.