http://www.balancedhealthtoday.com/medicardium.html<br /><br />The toxic dose for mercury compounds is about 10-50 mg/kg. Mercury is poorly absorbed from the gut and ingestion is usually harmless (unless aspiration occurs). A single dose (eg, a broken thermometer) usually causes no problems. It is only slowly absorbed through the skin but can cause contact dermatitis. <br /><br />In the mid-1950s to 1968 the people of Minamata, Japan suffered chronic mercury poisoning from pollution from a local factory (Minamata disease). 'Mad as a hatter' is derived from poisoning among hatmakers who used mercuric nitrate to soften the hair of animal hides.<br /><br />Acute poisoning:<br /><br />An acute pneumonitis (± adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)).<br />Flu-like symptoms.<br />Irritability.<br />Myalgia.<br />Gastrointestinal upset.<br />Subsequent peripheral neuropathy, hepatic dysfunction or renal failure may develop.<br /><br />Chronic poisoning:<br /><br />Irritability.<br />Personality changes.<br />Headache.<br />Peripheral neuropathy.<br />Memory problems.<br />Ataxia.<br />Coma.<br />Respiratory problems (pneumonitis and ARDS).<br />Gastrointestinal upset (abdominal pain, gingivitis and stomatitis, nausea, vomiting).<br />Renal problems include acute renal failure, nephrotic syndrome and acute tubular necrosis.<br /><br />http://www.balancedhealthtoday.com/products.html
