Mercury Unit Converter

Mercury is a heavy metal that can accumulate in the body and cause toxic effects. Blood and urine mercury tests measure the total amount of mercury present, helping to assess recent or chronic exposure.

Mercury exists in three forms: elemental (liquid metal), inorganic (salts), and organic (methylmercury). Each form has different toxicity profiles. Methylmercury from fish consumption is the most common source of exposure in the general population, while elemental mercury vapor exposure typically occurs in occupational settings.

Normal whole blood mercury is usually below 10 ng/mL (or 50 nmol/L). Levels up to 100 nmol/L may be seen in people who eat fish frequently. Significant toxicity is typically associated with levels above 50 ng/mL for methylmercury or above 200 ng/mL for inorganic mercury.

Mercury is not produced by the body. It enters through environmental exposure, primarily from consuming fish and shellfish that have accumulated methylmercury through the food chain, dental amalgam fillings that release mercury vapor, and occupational or environmental sources such as mining, industrial processes, and broken thermometers or fluorescent bulbs.