The toxicology of mercury—current exposures and clinical manifestations
Abstract
Mercury poisoning still occurs as a result of accidental and occupational exposure. For the general population, however, the main concern is the possible adverse effect of exposure to mercury through fish consumption and the receipt of dental amalgams and thimerosal, a preservative used in vaccines. This review summarizes both the facts and the controversies surrounding exposure to methyl mercury, mercury vapor, and the ethyl mercury in thimerosal.
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Thimerosal contains ethylmercury, considered less toxic than methylmercury.
“Thimerosal contains ethylmercury, considered a less toxic form of mercury compared to methylmercury.”
From Environmental Chemical Exposures and Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Review of the Epidemiological Evidence (2014) · cites this paper as [99]
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- Authors
- Clarkson, T. W., Magos, L., & Myers, G. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Rochester Medicine (US)
- Medical Research Council (GB)
- ORCID
- Myers, Gary J.
- Venue
- New England Journal of Medicine
- Publisher
- Massachusetts Medical Society
- Published
- 2003-10-30
- Volume
- 349
- Issue
- 18
- Pages
- 1731-1737
- ISSN
- 0028-4793 (ISSN-L)
- 1533-4406
- OpenAlex
- W2172098894
- Cited by
- 1,766
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 41 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 65 · 2023: 75 · 2022: 98 · 2021: 73 · 2020: 92 · 2019: 97 · 2018: 82 · 2017: 87 · 2016: 107 · 2015: 93 · 2014: 118 · 2013: 92 · 2012: 95
- FWCI
- 5.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- New England Journal of Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (R01 ES10219, R01ES010219, P30 ES0 1247, P30ES001247)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Mercury impact and mitigation studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Thallium and Germanium Studies
- Keywords
- mercury toxicity, methylmercury, mercury vapor, ethylmercury, thimerosal, fish consumption, dental amalgam, occupational exposure, accidental exposure, clinical features
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Animals, Dental Amalgam, Fetus, Fishes, Humans, Infant, Mercury, Mercury Poisoning, Methylmercury Compounds, Preservatives, Pharmaceutical, Thimerosal, Occupational Exposure
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