Why are test results sent to the New York State Heavy Metals Registry? Some people may have higher than usual levels from eating fish and seafood, working with mercury-containing materials, or from other exposure sources. For most people, an elevated blood mercury level is associated with eating fish and other seafood containing organic mercury.Įveryone has a small amount of mercury in his/her body. Elevated mercury in blood usually indicates exposure to organic mercury (such as from eating fish containing methylmercury) or recent exposure to a high level of elemental mercury vapor.Elevated mercury in urine usually indicates exposure to an elemental or inorganic source of mercury, such as from a job that uses mercury.Both tests usually measure levels of total mercury (elemental, inorganic and organic). The most commonly accepted methods of assessing mercury exposure are to test urine or blood. What medical testing is used to detect mercury exposure? A common form of organic mercury is methylmercury which is produced by microorganisms in water and soil, and which accumulates in fish. ![]() Organic mercury is mercury combined with carbon-containing compounds.Inorganic mercury is mercury combined with other chemical elements such as chlorine, sulfur or oxygen.Elemental mercury is a silvery, odorless liquid that evaporates slowly at room temperature, becoming a vapor.Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and is also released into the environment through human activity. Understanding Mercury Exposure Levels is available in Portable Document Format (PDF). ![]()
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