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Updated: Aug 19, 2025

An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium
Published on: December 17, 2018
Mercury poisoning from artisanal gold mining equipment
Andrew Waack1, Meghana Ranabothu1, Venkatramana Vattipally2
1University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, 3000 Arlington Ave, Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
Abstract:
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining uses mercury to isolate gold from ore. Although uncommon in the United States, it is more common in poor and undeveloped countries. This practice requires heating mercury, which vaporizes into an odorless gas that can be inspired and absorbed into the blood. Inspired mercury vapors place individuals at risk of acute mercury toxicity and its subsequent chronic sequelae. We report a case of incidentally detected mercury foreign bodies in a 56-year-old male with a prior history of accidental mercury poisoning due to prior contact with artisanal gold mining equipment.
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