Dubbed “quicksilver” by Aristotle,[1] mercury is a heavy metal with unusual physical characteristics, such as a low melting point,[2] that make it suitable for a variety of uses. It can be found in countless modern-day products, from thermometers and fluorescent light bulbs to dental fillings. Unfortunately, this unique metal is toxic to humans, and exposure can lead to neurological damage, com...

Free radicals are common outcome of normal aerobic cellular metabolism. In-built antioxidant system of body plays its decisive role in prevention of any loss due to free radicals. However, imbalanced defense mechanism of antioxidants and overproduction or incorporation of free radicals from environment to living systems leads to serious damage. It also attacks nervous system resulting in neural...

RATIONALE Metallic mercury poisoning through intravenous injection is rare, especially for a homicide attempt. Diagnosis and treatment of the disease are challenging. PATIENT CONCERNS A 34-year-old male presented with pyrexia, chill, fatigue, body aches, and pain of the dorsal aspect of right foot. Another case is that of a 29-year-old male who committed suicide by injecting himself metallic ...

Background. Skin lightening is very popular among women and some men of the Caribbean, and its popularity appears to be growing. The lightening of skin colour is done to produce a lighter complexion which is believed to increase attractiveness, social standing and improves one's potential of being successful. Design and Methods. Fifteen (15) common skin lightening creams found in pharmacies and...

Mercury exposure is the second-most common cause of toxic metal poisoning. Public health concern over mercury exposure, due to contamination of fish with methylmercury and the elemental mercury content of dental amalgams, has long been a topic of political and medical debate. Although the toxicology of mercury is complex, there is evidence for antioxidant protection in the prevention of neurolo...

a 24-year-old girl injected approximately i ml of elemental mercury from a few broken thermometers to her right cubital fossa. it led to the formation of a tumoral lesion which was erythematous, lobulated, painful, with secretory sinuses in the injected area. biopsy showed foreign body granulomas with metallic mercury that appeared as dark opaque globules. x-rays showed metallic densities in th...

Proteinuria is not usually reported in chronic mercury poisoning. The urine of three men exposed to metallic mercury vapour was found to contain protein. In two, the proteinuria disappeared on removal from exposure. The urinary protein in two cases was investigated and found to be indistinguishable from serum protein by the criteria used. The bound carbohydrate values were similar to those foun...

Insomnia is one of the symptoms of inorganic mercury poisoning (IMP). The objective of this study is to analyze the chief psychological aspects in the adjustment of workers with chronic insomnia associated with IMP. For this purpose the Preventive Clinical Interview and the Ryad Simon Operational Adaptive Diagnostic Scale (Escala Diagnóstica Adaptativa Operacionalizada-EDAO) were utilized. Fift...

It would hardly be possible to imagine a selection of papers from the Journal that did not contain at least one by Donald Hunter, the first editor. Hunter, who was never himself an occupational physician in the sense that he was never employed in industry, nevertheless had the most profound effect on occupational medicine. His pre-eminent place was due in large measure to his Diseases of Occupa...

A 24-year-old girl injected approximately I ml of elemental mercury from a few broken thermometers to her right cubital fossa. It led to the formation of a tumoral lesion which was erythematous, lobulated, painful, with secretory sinuses in the injected area. Biopsy showed foreign body granulomas with metallic mercury that appeared as dark opaque globules. X-rays showed metallic densities i...