A mercury blood level test is more appropriate for checking someone after a suspected acute exposure to mercury, while a 24-hour urine mercury level test is better for checking someone for low-grade or long-term exposure to mercury, such as from mercury exposure on the job. Mercury serves no role in the human body, so technically there shouldn’t be any mercury in your bloodstream. However, studies have shown that amounts of mercury greater than 85 micrograms per liter (µg/L) pose harm. [3] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source You can get home tests for mercury, but it is recommended that you undergo professional medical testing if you have serious concerns about poisoning.
Vomiting and nausea Shaky hands Stomach cramps and diarrhea Tightness in your chest and coughing
Some of the medications are taken via oral capsule, and others are injected intravenously. The most common chelation treatment is with a synthetic amino acid injection. Drugs that have been medically approved for use in chelation therapy in the U. S. include dimercaprol (BAL), succimer, deferoxamine, edetate calcium disodium, and penicillamine.
Side effects of, for example, the drug deferoxamine include lung injuries or infections and very low blood pressure. If you’re concerned about the side effects, ask your doctor if they can prescribe you one of the milder chelating drugs or see if they can start you off on a lower dosage. Chelation therapy is the only medical method to counteract mercury poisoning. Although some of the side effects may seem severe, they are much better than living with mercury poisoning!
Cilantro will clear the mercury out of your body very slowly. For the herb to have any sizeable effect, you’ll need to eat it regularly over a period of several weeks. Take a large bunch of cilantro and make it into a pesto with garlic and olive oil. Or, toss cilantro with pasta and eat it for lunch or dinner. Cilantro also goes well with a wide variety of Mexican dishes.
If you’re taking garlic supplements, aim to consume between 600 to 1,200 mg per day. Studies have indicated that garlic is successful at removing mercury toxicity from rats. However, it has not been conclusively shown that garlic has much of an effect on mercury levels in the human body.
You can also purchase vitamin E supplements in pill form. These are widely sold at health-food stores or in homeopathic medicine departments. Adults ages 18 and up shouldn’t consume more than 800–1,000 mg of vitamin E daily.
You can also purchase vitamin E supplements in pill form. These are widely sold at health-food stores or in homeopathic medicine departments. Adults ages 18 and up shouldn’t consume more than 800–1,000 mg of vitamin E daily.
As a rough rule of thumb, only eat fish that are small enough to fit into your skillet. These fish typically haven’t lived more than a year or 2, and won’t have had time to absorb much mercury.
Read the labels on the packaging your fish comes in at the grocery store. Look for fish that’s labeled “Mercury-free. ”
