Random question--has anybody ever had mercury poisoning?

last year

I am wondering about this. Apparently, tuna can be quite bad for you. I had no idea. Must live under rock. I am way over FDA guidelines for hte last two months. Thanks. Calling doctor tomorrow but worried tonight.

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dedtired

last year

Thats where we get the term Mad Hatter or mad as a hatter.

Erethism and “hatters”

During the 18th to 20th centuries, hat makers used mercury to stiffen felt for hats. They used a type of mercury called mercuric nitrate and worked in poorly ventilated rooms.

Over time, the hatters inhaled mercury vapors. Many developed symptoms of chronic mercury poisoning, including psychosis, excitability, and tremors. These symptoms became so common in hatters that the phrase “mad as a hatter” was born.

In the United States, mercury was used in hat making until 1941.

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Comments (23)

foodonastump
last year
last modified: last year
What kind are you eating? IIRC chunk light has leas mercury because it’s smaller, younger fish. I’ll be interested in what the doctor says snd what the options are if it’s a concern. RFK jr underwent some sort of de-heavy-metalong but he’s a freak so take that for what little it’s worth. Hope it’s not an issie for you.
Annegriet thanked foodonastump
Annegriet
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Tonnino in olive oil. Thanks for the fast reply!
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pudgeder
last year
last modified: last year
Several years ago in a small town north of Tulsa, a young child had mercury poisoning. If I remember correctly, the parents were under deep suspicion of child abuse. Turns out, someone that rented the house before them had somehow or another spilled Mercury in the carpet and never told the landlord. (Never disclosed where it came from or why he had it in the 1st place either)

Everytime someone walked on it, or they vacuumed, it just spread all over the place.

They had to move and the poor baby was pretty ill.

.

It's good you're being cautious.

Please let us know what the doctor says!
Annegriet thanked pudgeder
bpath
last year
Gosh, when we were kids we played with the mercury when the fever thermometer broke. What are the symptoms?
Annegriet thanked bpath
Annegriet
Original Author
last year
From the EPA:

Possible symptoms of methylmercury poisoning may include:
- Loss of peripheral vision;
- "Pins and needles" feelings, usually in the hands, feet, and around the mouth;
- Lack of coordination of movements;
- Impairment of speech, hearing, walking; and/or
- Muscle weakness.
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
last year
Oh bummer 😕

Practically all larger fish are high in mercury nowadays, I think - especially those that ingest other fish. I thought it built up in tissues, not fats

I recently learned that the metal mercury is not easily absorbed through the skin, so handling it may not be so harmful, compared to ingesting it in other forms.

I remember an actress some years back who ate lots of sushi and started losing her hair.

Found it - on Wikipedia:

"In 2004,(Daphne) Zuniga suffered from mercury poisoning, which she attributed to overconsumption of fish. She said she had eaten sushi four times in the week prior to being taken to the emergency room and that her symptoms included weak memory, headaches, crying spells, skin rashes, and mild depression.[32] After her diagnosis, Zuniga stopped consuming fish in addition to other meat.[17]"

More recently, Janelle Monae evidently suffered from it after eating a pescatarian diet. This article explains the different forms.

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a30793578/janelle-monae-mercury-poisoning-pescatarian-diet/

I believe some folks use chelation therapy to remove heavy metals from their bodies.

And I also know that mercury in bodies of water can come from pesticides - they use it to fumigate tomato fields here, last I saw - and freshwater fish are contaminated enough that people are warned not to consume
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carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
last year
I learned from the S-Town podcast that the historical technique fire gilding uses mercury and is quite poisonous.
Annegriet thanked carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
morz8 - Washington Coast
last year
Most of the tuna we eat we've canned ourselves. Raw packed which is incredibly hard to find commercially, and I know smaller fish because I've seen them whole. They are young and haven't had time to ingest pollutants while growing larger. But we eat so few sandwiches these days and somehow I just don't think of tuna in salads or casseroles much any more. We've bought fish from the same man for years - his latest prices may have something to do with our lack of interest. Then there is my glass topped stove. To process tuna safely I just about have to do it over the crab cooker in the garage and it's not what anyone would call convenient.

I'm another who doesn't know why we didn't get sick from playing with a thermometers contents when we were little. More than once someone would have it at school and we'd all play with it!
Annegriet thanked morz8 - Washington Coast
matthias_lang
last year
One of my in-laws got mercury poisoning about 35 years ago working in a lab for an oil company. He underwent chelation therapy, and, as far as I know, never had further problems. I don't know what symptoms he may have had in the first place, but I think I remember him having hair loss from it.
Annegriet thanked matthias_lang
Jupidupi
last year
last modified: last year
We played with mercury when I was a kid. We would spill it onto a kitchen saucer and break it with a bobby pin, then watch it return to its original blob. Sometimes we would even pour it into our palms and let it slide around. The dentist used to give it to us as a "toy." And here's the really weird part -- it would come in a little capsule. None of us thought to swallow that capsule, possibly because in our household, candy was unlimited. Now sugar, that's a whole other danger...
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Annegriet
Original Author
last year
Going to doctor--have 10 am appt. My nerves are wrecked.
vgkg Z-7 Va
last year
last modified: last year
Eating mercury contaminated seafood using teeth that are filled with mercury could be a double whammy.

Wiki : Dental amalgam is a dental filling material used to fill cavities caused by tooth decay. Dental amalgam is a mixture of metals, consisting of liquid (elemental) mercury and a powdered alloy composed of silver, tin, and copper. Approximately half (50%) of dental amalgam is elemental mercury by weight.

Several years ago a friend of mine spent big bucks replacing all of his old amalgam fillings with gold fillings. He did not notice any health changes but he does sleep a bit better.
Annegriet thanked vgkg Z-7 Va
chisue
last year
Just when I was running out of things to worry about!

I hope your doctor will be able to set your mind at ease, Annegriet.
Annegriet thanked chisue
Annegriet
Original Author
last year
Doctor thinks I'm fine--just cut way back on the tuna. Getting a mercury blood test just to ease mind. Will do that at 12:30 pm.
KW PNW Z8
last year
@Annegriet - how much tuna & other fish do you eat? Now I’m looking at my Wild Planet ”sustainably pole & line caught” Albacore wild tuna. Packaging says ”Research shows that smaller albacore, such as used by Wild Planet contain less mercury than larger albacore.” Not sure I can enjoy a my next tuna sandwich! I know about mercury in fish & the cautions for pregnant women but didn’t think about it in relation to myself!
Annegriet thanked KW PNW Z8
Annegriet
Original Author
last year
KW--I was eating Tonnino (in olive oil) daily for the last month or so. That's yellowfin--it appears it is packed in Germany and their website says that they adhere to even stricter guidelines than FDA. Whatever. I also eat a lot of salmon. Just had my blood test after visit with doctor. The blood test is precautioinary. He says I'm fine--the chances of something being clinically wrong with me are very low but to lay off the tuna for a bit. Branch out to canned chicken (for the ease of it all when packing lunches), sardines, salmon. He said my 5 cans per week were only slightly over the permitted amount of 4 cans. I'll let you know what bloodwork says. If only we hadn't contaminated our oceans...
KW PNW Z8
last year
last modified: last year
Annegriet - thanks for sharing your info. Daily is a lot of tuna when compared to the recommendations. You didn’t say anything about having symptoms of mercury poisoning so I’m guessing something else triggered your concern. My fish choices for dinner are cod & salmon - but not farmed / Atlantic Salmon. I avoid fish like Tilapia too. I found a list of healthiest to eat & Salmon was #1, Cod #3 & Tuna #8. I agree - if only we hadn’t contaminated our oceans…and I’ll add - if only we hadn’t contaminated our entire earth! And, why can’t everyone get excited about stopping that!
Annegriet thanked KW PNW Z8
Annegriet
Original Author
last year
No symptoms other than paranoia and fear. I love salmon but I don't like wild caught--it's too tough--I know it's not as good for you but I like Whole Foods farm raised Atlantic fillets--they have a lovely buttery taste/texture. I try to buy from Norway.
Annegriet
Original Author
last year
Bloodwork came back--mercury level--normal range. Still cutting back on the tuna. Going to add more variety to my protein. This whole thing was very bad for my stress levels! Thanks all for being so supportive.
KW PNW Z8
last year
@Annegriet Think Lentils! Very good source of protein! 😊
Annegriet thanked KW PNW Z8
Annegriet
Original Author
last year
I'm on it--I actually like lentils a lot!
pudgeder
last year
Glad everything came back good!!

Random question--has anybody ever had mercury poisoning?

dedtired

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