Autoimmune diseases mercury exposure

This chapter reviewed current research pertaining to selected environmental agents and autoimmune diseases (Table 25.3). Other infectious agents (e.g., parvovirus, varicella), occupational exposures (e.g., mercury), dietary factors (dietary supplements, nutrients such as antioxidants, and specific proteins in wheat and other grains implicated in celiac disease), and stress have been the focus of additional research that was not included in this review. 

Heavy metals, like lead and mercury, have been recognized as toxic poisons for centuries. Further, toxic concentrations of mercury, for example, can trigger several effects like autoimmune diseases, infections, unexplained chronic fatigue, depression, nerve impairment, memory problems, decreased mental clarity, and bowel disorders. For several decades, mercury vapor exposure has caused severe health problems among chloralkali workers. This is only an example. It may be repeated that education can effectively minimize exposure to hazardous metals. Basic information and training for proper handling of toxic chemicals will reduce potential adverse health effects. 

Attention has been given to mercury as a cause of autoimmune responses, especially in the kidney (69). Exposure to mercury can cause immune responses to various auto-antigens and autoimmune disease of the kidney and other tissues. Although epidemiological studies have shown that occupational exposure to mercury does not usually result in autoimmunity, mercury can cause the formation of antinuclear antibodies,... 

Antilaminin antibodies induced by mercuric chloride have been demonstrated to be detrimental to the development of cultured rat embryos (Chambers and Klein 1993). Based upon that observation, those authors suggested that it might be possible for an autoimmune disease induced by a substance such as mercury at an early age to persist into later life, acting as a teratogen independent of both dose-response relationships and time of exposure, but that possibility remains to be experimentally demonstrated. 

HgCl2 given intravenously, orally, or intratracheally induces the disease in a similar way (Bernaudin et al. 1981). Exposure to mercury vapor also induces the autoimmune disease in BN rats (Hua et al. 1993). Methyl-mercury or pharmaceutical ointments and solutions containing organic mercury are effective even when these products are applied on wounds or even on normal skin (Druet et al. 1981). 

Despite awareness, mercury exposure and related toxicity are reported in humans. Somces of exposme include environment [174 ], food (especially seafood) [175 ], accident or suicide [176, 177, 178, 179 ], occupation [180 ] and traditional drugs [181 182 ]. The major targets for mercury toxicity include renal [176 ], nervous, cardiovascular, reproductive system, autoimmune disease [183 ] and visual impairments. 

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