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Which organs are damaged by acute mercury poisoning?
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zinc group element
Modern version of the periodic table of the elements (printable).
Acute mercury poisoning, typically resulting from the ingestion of soluble mercury salts, primarily causes severe inflammation of the digestive tract, characterized by abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea.1
Once absorbed, the mercury concentrates in the kidneys, where it damages the blood-filtering structures. This leads to a decrease and eventual cessation of urine output, resulting in the accumulation of toxic substances in the blood (uremia) and potentially death.12
In contrast, poisoning from organic mercury compounds—such as alkyl mercurials—primarily targets the central nervous system, as these compounds are capable of penetrating brain cells.12