Three Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning that Show it May Be Present in Your Home
Mercury is a naturally occurring substance that can have serious and irreversible physical, cognitive, and neurological consequences when one ingests or inhales it in large amounts. Many people are exposed to methylmercury, which can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women, through the consumption of seafood and shellfish. This type of mercury is not its only form; exposure to elemental (metallic) mercury is another common cause of mercury poisoning. Elemental mercury exposure can result from old containers, products, and devices, some of which used to be common in homes, which have broken and released the mercury as a vapor. Individuals can inhale the vapor and suffer a number of serious health problems as a result. Some of the most common symptoms of this type of exposure are outlined below.
- Emotional changes and mood swings: Because mercury is a neurotoxin, it can cause of number of emotional and psychological problems in people exposed to it. Mercury exposure can cause mood swings, depression, anxiety, hallucinations, confusion, aggressiveness, and a number of other issues. If you suddenly feel confused or that your emotions or mind is out of control, it may be symptomatic of continued exposure to mercury.
- Reduction in cognitive and motor function: If you start experiencing memory loss, confusion, tremors, or difficulty completing tasks physically or neurologically, it may be a symptom of mercury poisoning. Of course, these are relatively common symptoms for a number of health issues, so it is important to seek medical attention immediately if you begin experiencing any of these functional problems to determine the exact cause and prevent any worsening of symptoms.
- Lung issues: Because mercury is often inhaled as a vapor, many of the initial symptoms of mercury poisoning are related to the lungs. Mercury can cause a number of chronic breathing disorders, including asthma, bronchitis, chest congestion, shortness of breath, persistent coughing, and bad breath. If you begin experiencing any of these symptoms, especially in conjunction with the other symptoms listed above, you should seek medical attention immediately.
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If you or a loved one has suffered from mercury poisoning from negligent exposure in your home, you may be entitled to compensation to help mitigate the emotional, physical, neurological, and financial losses you have suffered as a result. Here at Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC, our team of qualified premises liability attorneys understands how devastating mercury poisoning can be. We believe that irresponsible individuals should be brought to justice for their crimes. If you have any questions or want to speak to one of our Chicago premises liability attorneys, please contact us at 312-346-8620 today. Click here to learn more about our premise liability cases.