Despite common knowledge that immortality potions could be deadly, fangshi and Daoist alchemists continued the elixir-making practice for two millennia.Ĭhinese woodblock illustration of a waidan alchemical refining furnace, 1856 Waike tushuo 外科圖説 (Illustrated Manual of External Medicine) Terminology 210 BCE) and the last was the Yongzheng Emperor (d. The first emperor to die from elixir poisoning was likely Qin Shi Huang (d. The official Twenty-Four Histories record numerous Chinese emperors, nobles, and officials who died from taking elixirs to prolong their lifespans. In Chinese alchemy, elixir poisoning refers to the toxic effects from elixirs of immortality that contained metals and minerals such as mercury and arsenic. Mercury poisoning at a home day care center – Hillsborough county, Florida, 2015.Deadly toxicity in elixers of immortality 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:
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |