How does lead and mercury affect cell function?
Summary: Low levels of toxic substances cause critical stem cells in the central nervous system to prematurely shut down.
The most devastating effect of mercury in the nervous system is interference with the production of energy which can impair cellular detoxification processes causing the cell to either die or live in a state of chronic malnutrition.
Lead then disrupts the movement and storage of calcium inside cells, increasing cell stress, which can lead to the death of neurons and other brain cells. Lead also hijacks calcium's roles in the brain, including communication between neurons.
The higher the dose and the longer the duration of exposure, the greater the likelihood of damage. Elevated levels can lead to learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and mental retardation. Extremely high levels may lead to seizures and coma and can be fatal.
Description of the main results found in this article. Deposits of inorganic mercury caused oxidative stress. The necrosis and apoptosis processes kill cells, both neurons and glia. The cell death is the main factor responsible for fine motor control changes.
Many studies show that high exposure to mercury induces changes in the central nervous system, potentially resulting in irritability, fatigue, behavioral changes, tremors, headaches, hearing and cognitive loss, dysarthria, incoordination, hallucinations, and death.
Health effects of mercury exposure
The inhalation of mercury vapour can produce harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys, and may be fatal. The inorganic salts of mercury are corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.
All Mercury is Toxic
Depending on the type and amount, exposures to mercury can damage the nervous system, kidneys, liver and immune system. Breathing mercury vapors can harm the nervous system, lungs and kidneys. Mercury vapors can pass easily from the lungs to the bloodstream.
Mercury is used primarily for the manufacture of industrial chemicals or for electrical and electronic applications. It is used in some liquid-in-glass thermometers, especially those used to measure high temperatures.
The most severe neurological effect of lead exposure is lead encephalopathy [19], a response to very high doses of lead that results in development of irritability, headache, mental dullness and attention difficulty, memory loss, tremor, and hallucinations within weeks of exposure.
What is lead used for?
Lead is still widely used for car batteries, pigments, ammunition, cable sheathing, weights for lifting, weight belts for diving, lead crystal glass, radiation protection and in some solders. It is often used to store corrosive liquids.
Lead directly affects the hematopoietic system through restraining the synthesis of hemoglobin by inhibiting various key enzymes involved in the heme synthesis pathway.
The most common cause of mercury poisoning is from consuming too much methylmercury or organic mercury, which is linked to eating seafood. Small amounts of mercury are present in everyday foods and products, which may not affect your health. Too much mercury, however, can be poisonous.
Aquatic pollution caused by mercury, lead, and cadmium affects cell growth and pigment content of marine microalga, Nannochloropsis oculata. Environ Monit Assess. 2020 May 6;192(6):330.
Both mercury and lead are "heavy metals", poisonous when accumulated in human tissues. Mercury may be considered more dangerous, as it is the only metal that is liquid at normal room temperature and pressure, and it has a high vapor pressure.
Cell toxicity is caused by exogenous toxicant which can damage cells, especially when the toxicant can cause cell death and serious organ dysfunction [1]. The effects of a toxicant are usually dose-dependent and species–specific.
Lead forms an amalgam when filings are mixed with mercury and is also listed as a naturally occurring alloy called leadamalgam in the Nickel–Strunz classification.
All Mercury is Toxic
Depending on the type and amount, exposures to mercury can damage the nervous system, kidneys, liver and immune system. Breathing mercury vapors can harm the nervous system, lungs and kidneys. Mercury vapors can pass easily from the lungs to the bloodstream.
Lead and mercury are naturally occurring elements in the earth's crust and are common environmental contaminants.