How long does it take to excrete mercury (all forms) from the body?
• The majority of inorganic and elemental mercury compounds exit the body in the urine and faeces over a period of several weeks to months; smaller amounts of absorbed mercury vapours exit the body in exhaled breath and through perspiration, more rapidly. • The half-life in the whole body has been observed to be within the range of 29 to 60 days, with an average of 42 days for inorganic mercury. • Methyl mercury leaves slowly over a period of several months, mostly as inorganic mercury in faeces. After stopping exposure to methyl mercury, it takes between 45 and 70 days to decrease methyl mercury concentrations by half in a person’s blood and slightly longer in the whole body. Q39. What are the health effects and symptoms of inorganic mercury exposure in adults? • Acute poisoning following exposure to mercury vapours at high levels (over 1 milligram per cubic meter) for a short period, may cause severe irritation of the airways, pneumonitis, pulmonary edema and other symptoms of lung d
