title: Elemental mercury toxicity due to aspiration following intentional massive ingestion.
abstract: Deliberate poisoning with intentional ingestion of elemental mercury is reported not to result in systemic toxicity due to minimal absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. We report a case of a 43 year old male who intentionally ingested 200 ml elemental mercury which resulted in abdominal pain and vomiting. The patient subsequently aspirated globules of mercury which was confirmed on chest x-ray and his blood mercury levels were markedly raised. He was treated with chelating agents and managed in a negative pressure room to reduce the risk of staff being exposed to exhaled mercury vapour from the patient.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Centre, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford Teaching Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Duckworth Lane, Bradford BD9 6RJ, UK. alison.dawson3@nhs.net
authors.forename: Alison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iliopoulou
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000139:chemically induced; D000328:Adult; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy* / Q000652:urine; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D014494:Unithiol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D014494:Unithiol; D008628:Mercury