Poisoning, mercuric chloride

Singer AJ, Mofenson HC, Caraccio TR, and Ilasi J (1994) Mercuric chloride poisoning due to ingestion of a stool fixative. Journal of Toxicology Clinical Toxicology 32(5) 577-582. 

Chugh KS, Singhal PC, Uberoi HS. 1978. Rhabdomyolysis and renal failure in acute mercuric chloride poisoning. Med J Aust 2 125-126. 

We have attempted to support this conclusion by Inoculating seawater with surface material gently scraped off the surfaces of nodosum and F. vesiculosis plants and monitoring for polybromomethane formation. In both cases bromoform concentrations In the water were observed to Increase (Figure 3). Mercuric chloride poisoning, 0.2 pm filtering, and autoclaving the Inoculated seawater prevented this bromoform production. Thus, some component of the epiphytic community may be Involved. 

Mercuric Chloride. Mercuric c Aon.d.e.[7487-94-7] HgCl2, is also known as corrosive sublimate of mercury or mercury bichloride. It is extremely poisonous, and is particularly dangerous because of high (7 g/L at 25°C) water solubiUty and high vapor pressure. It sublimes without decomposition at 300°C, and has a vapor pressure of 13 Pa (0.1 mm Hg) at 100°C, and 400 Pa (3 mm Hg) at 150°C. The vapor density is high (9.8 g/cm ), and therefore mercuric chloride vapor dissipates slowly (5). 

If sampling is not followed immediately by analysis, the sample must be treated with a preservative, but not such as to falsify the analytical results use is made of 10% potassium dichromate solution, formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, alcoholic solution of phenol, mercuric chloride (about 5% solution), etc., a few drops being added. The last of these preserves milk very well for several days without altering its composition or disturbing the determinations, but its poisonous character necessitates precautions. 

Kattner, G. 1999. Storage of dissolved inorganic nutrients in seawater Poisoning with mercuric chloride. Mar. Chem. 67 61-66. 

Colloidal iridium readily decomposes hydrogen peroxide solution, the reaction being, as with platinum, mono-molecular the rate of decomposition is approximately proportional to the concentration of catalyst. Alkali does not affect the reaction velocity, but dilute acids accelerate it. Hydrogen sulphide, mercuric chloride, and certain other substances act as poisons.3 Colloidal iridium is less active, however, than platinum. 

Colloidal platinum still further resembles organic ferments in its action upon hydrogen peroxide in that its activity is reduced or partially paralysed by the addition of poisons such as hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulphide, or mercuric chloride. After a time, however, the metal may recover from these. 

Mercuric chloride is highly toxic, and ingestion of 1 g may prove fatal. A postmortem urine sample with a mercury concentration greater than 0.1 jJg/ml is highly indicative of mercury poisoning. 

Inorganic mercury, such as occurs in mercury salts, is mostly soluble or dispersible in water and therefore would disperse in the environment. At high levels it would certainly be poisonous to wildlife and humans alike but, dispersed in large volumes of water, it would be less of a risk. Under certain conditions, however, inorganic mercury may give rise to organomercury (see below). Inorganic mercury has been used in medicine as a laxative and to treat syphilis in the form of calomel (mercurous chloride) (see case notes). Corrosive sublimate (mercuric chloride) was used as a disinfectant and some traditional Chinese medicines stHl contain it. 

Mercuric Chloride, HgCl2. — Dissolve 50 gm. of the commercial salt in 1000 cc. of warm water. Poison. Mercurous Nitrate, Hg2(N03)2.— (i) Dissolve 50 gm. of the crystallized salt in 1000 cc. of distilled water, add 75 cc. of concentrated nitric acid and a little mercury. 

Mercuric chloride, like other soluble salts of mercury, is very poisonous when taken internally. The mercUric ion combines strongly with proteins in the human body it acts especially on the tissues of the kidney, destroying the ability of this organ to remove waste products from the blood. Egg white and milk are swallowed as antidotes their proteins precipitate the mercury in the stomach. ... 

Metal Albuminates.—Salts of certain metals, e.g., mercuric chloride, HgCh, and lead acetate, (CH3COO)2Pb. precipitate albumins from solution in the form of insoluble metal albuminates. These reactions are the basis for the use of white of egg as an antidote for poisoning with mercuric chloride. 

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