[Metallic mercury poisoning. Case report]

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Environmental Health
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Metallic mercury (Hg) poisoning is uncommon.
• Subcutaneous injection of large quantities of mercury is a rare route of exposure.
• Understanding the toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of mercury is crucial.

Observation:

• A patient self-administered a subcutaneous injection of 500g of metallic mercury in a suicide attempt.
• The patient succumbed to mercury intoxication 16 months post-injection.
• Clinical manifestations and pathological changes were observed over the 16-month period.

Findings:

• The case illustrates the prolonged and potentially fatal course of severe metallic mercury intoxication.
• Systemic absorption and distribution of mercury led to multi-organ damage.
• The review covers known effects of metallic mercury on the human body.

Implications:

• This case underscores the extreme toxicity of metallic mercury even via unusual routes.
• It highlights the importance of recognizing and managing rare but severe poisoning cases.
• Further research into the long-term sequelae of mercury exposure is warranted.