revised final - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ...

MERCURY 111
Musculoskeletal Effects
2. HEALTH EFFECTS
Inorganic Mercury. A single case report was identified that found evidence of skeletal muscle
degeneration (markedly elevated serum aldolase, LDH, and creatinine phosphokinase; and the presence of
pigment granular casts and myoglobin in the urine) in a 22-year-old man who ingested 2 g of mercuric
chloride in an attempt to commit suicide (Chugh et al. 1978). Several children who were treated with
mercurous chloride for constipation, worms, or teething discomfort experienced muscle twitching or
cramping in the legs and/or arms (Warkany and Hubbard 1953). The muscular effects were probably
secondary to changes in electrolyte balance (i.e., potassium imbalance due to fluid loss or renal wasting).
No studies were located regarding musculoskeletal effects in animals after oral exposure to inorganic
mercury.
Organic Mercury. Autopsy of one of two boys who died after eating meat from a hog that had consumed
seed treated with ethylmercuric chloride showed muscle wasting (Cinca et al. 1979). This effect was
probably secondary to neurotoxicity. Electromyography in the two surviving members of the family
showed no abnormalities. Musculoskeletal effects observed in Iraqis poisoned by consuming flour made
from grains treated with ethylmercury p-toluene sulfonanilide included deep skeletal pain and muscle
twitching or fasciculations (Jalili and Abbasi 1961). It is likely that these effects were secondary to effects
on the nervous system.
No treatment-related histopathological changes in skeletal muscle were observed in rats exposed via the diet
for 2 years to 0.1 mg Hg/kg/day as methylmercuric chloride (Verschuuren et al. 1976).
Hepatic Effects
Inorganic Mercury. Limited information was located regarding hepatic effects in humans who ingested
inorganic mercury. A 35-year-old man who ingested a lethal dose of mercuric chloride became jaundiced
and exhibited elevated AST, alkaline phosphatase, LDH, and bilirubin (Murphy et al. 1979). An autopsy
revealed an enlarged and softened liver. Hepatic enlargement was also observed in a 19-month-old boy
who ingested an unknown amount of powdered mercuric chloride (Samuels et al. 1982).
Limited information was located regarding the hepatic effects of inorganic mercury in animals.