Which organs are most harmed by acute mercury poisoning?

Acute mercury poisoning, which typically results from the ingestion of soluble mercury salts, primarily causes severe damage to the digestive tract and the kidneys.

When these salts are ingested, they cause intense inflammation of the digestive tract, leading to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and bloody diarrhea. Once absorbed into the body, the mercury concentrates in the kidneys, where it poisons the blood-filtering structures. This damage often leads to a significant decrease or complete cessation of urine output, resulting in the accumulation of toxic substances in the blood (uremia) and potentially death.1

In contrast, poisoning from organic mercury compounds—such as those involved in Minamata disease—primarily targets the central nervous system, leading to symptoms like muscle weakness, loss of vision, and paralysis.1