Mercury (whole blood)

Optimal Result: 0 - 4.35 mcg/L.

Mercury is an element that is found all over the earth, in soil, rocks, and water. The issue with mercury is that if humans are exposed to it, depending on the amount, route, and duration of exposure, mercury can be toxic to humans.

Mercury intoxication is associated with symptoms such as:

(1) mental changes,

(2) spontaneous tremor and deficits in psychomotor performance, and

(3) stomatitis and gingivitis.

The toxic effects of mercury have been associated with neurological dysfunction, dementia, and autoimmune diseases.

The toxic effects of mercury have been associated with neurological dysfunction, dementia, and autoimmune diseases. Although research suggests that the etiology of autism is multifactorial, numerous reports demonstrate that aspects of mercury toxicity appear similar to autism symptomatology. According to the CDC, mercury released from amalgams may comprise up to 75% of an individual’s mercury exposure. Methyl-mercury from seafood is considered to be the most important source of non-occupational human mercury exposure.

Blood mercury has revealed low level chronic and acute exposure from work environments. Significant exposure is evident when whole blood alkyl mercury is greater than 50 μg/L, or when inorganic mercury (Hg2+) exposure is greater than 200 μg/L. Children’s reference values for whole blood mercury from 1.5 to 1.0 μg/L have been proposed. Risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was found to be nearly 10 times higher when blood mercury was above 29 nmol/L. The quantity of mercury assayed in blood and hair, but not urine, correlates with the severity of toxicity symptoms.

Hair has been a frequently used specimen by CDC and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for accurately assessing mercury exposure in selected populations. Levels of mercury greater than 1 μg/g also indicate mercury toxicity. A positive correlation of blood pressure with levels of hair mercury has been seen.

The level of mercury in urine is a reliable way to assess exposure to inorganic mercury. Daily urinary levels greater than 50 μg indicate a Hg2+ overload.

Sulfur-containing agents, such as N-acetyl cysteine and dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), can be effective agents for removing mercury from tissues. Research has shown that N-acetyl cysteine and glutathione can protect cells from mercury toxicity. Some antioxidants such as alpha-lipoic acid and glutathione may also possess chelative effects.

Dietary selenium has been found to reduce the toxic effects of mercury. Potential sources of mercury include dental amalgams, broken thermometers, cosmetics, and predator or fresh water fish.

Associated Symptoms and Diseases:

– Mental symptoms: erethism (=a neurological disorder), insomnia, fatigue, poor short- term memory

– Tremor

– Stomatitis (=inflammation of the mouth and lips)

– Gingivitis (=red and puffy gums)

– GI and renal disturbances

– Decreased immunity

Sources:

– Dental amalgams,

– Predator fish, certain lake fish

– preservatives (esp. thimerosal)

– industrial release effects

– Broken thermometers and barometers

– Grain seeds treated with methylmercury fungicide

– Mercuric chloride Thimerosal (Ethylmercurithiosalicylic acid sodium salt)

– Calomel (body powder, talc, laxatives)

– Cosmetics (check labels if possible)

– Latex and solvent-thinned paints

– Hemorrhoid suppositories

– Mercurochrome, merthiolate

– Fabric softeners

– Floor waxes and polishes

– Air conditioner filters

– Wood preservatives

– Certain batteries

– Fungicides for lawns and shrubs

– Leather tanning products

– Thimerosal-preserved immunization fluids

– Adhesives

– Skin-lightening creams

– Certain ointments to treat psoriasis

– Photoengraving

– Tattooing

– Sewage sludge used as fertilizer

Protective Measures:

Selenium (protects against cellular toxicity)

What does it mean if your Mercury (whole blood) result is too high?

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. For most people, an elevated blood mercury level is associated with eating fish and other seafood containing organic mercury.

-----------------

Associated Symptoms and Diseases with Mercury toxicity:

– Mental symptoms: erethism (=a neurological disorder), insomnia, fatigue, poor short- term memory

– Tremor

– Stomatitis (=inflammation of the mouth and lips)

– Gingivitis (=red and puffy gums)

– GI and renal disturbances

– Decreased immunity

Potential ways to manage a metal toxicity:

– Identify and avoid exposure to the toxic element

– Test water

– Evaluate cooking utensils

– Evaluate building materials in the home

– Diet: eat organic fruits and vegetables, consider seafood as a source of toxic elements

– Evaluate source of herbal supplements for contamination

– Sauna

– Total dietary fiber intake to 30-40 g/day,

– hydration: drink 60 – 90 oz. clean water daily

– Beans, cooked vegetables, whole grain breads

– Whole grain cereals, especially oatmeal

– Fresh fruits, especially apples

– Anti-oxidants including vitamin C

– Dietary selenium has been found to reduce the toxic effects of mercury.

References:

http://www.chelationmedicalcenter.com/!_genova_interpretive_guides/genova_elements_ig_blood_hair_urine.pdf

Frequently asked questions

Healthmatters is a highly-personalized health dashboard.

Instead of searching for your lab results in different places or tracking them down from different providers, Healthmatters houses, organizes, and interprets them all in one central location.

With a Healthmatters account, you can dive into the details of each biomarker and gain insights into the meaning behind your medical test data, anytime, anywhere.

For our professional users, Healthmatters provides intuitive tools that not only streamline analysis but also save valuable time when delving into your client's lab report history.

Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:

  • The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
  • GI-MAP,
  • The NutrEval FMV®,
  • The ION Profile,
  • Amino Acids Profile,
  • Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
  • Organic Acids Test,
  • Organix Comprehensive Profile,
  • Toxic Metals,
  • Complete Blood Count (CBC),
  • Metabolic panel,
  • Thyroid panel,
  • Lipid Panel,
  • Urinalysis,
  • And many, many more.

You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.

If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.

While we work with many popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too.

It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters and we can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.

If you’re on the hunt for a specific biomarker, contact us and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account.

There are two ways to add your test reports to your Healthmatters account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."

Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.

For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.

We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.

Our special data entry service makes it easy to add your results to your private dashboard. Just attach an image or a file of your lab test results, and our skilled data entry team will do the work for you. It's all done by humans, ensuring that your data is entered accurately and with personal care for each client.

Depending on your account, the data entry service can be included for free or come at an additional cost of $15 per report.

For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.

Unlimited account holders enjoy the entry of ten reports without charge. Subsequent reports are subject to a $15 fee per report.

Additionally, users on the Complete plan can upgrade to a yearly subscription from the account settings. The annual subscription includes a data entry service for five reports.

The Unlimited plan is a one-time purchase for $250, and it covers your account for a lifetime with no additional payments.

For the Complete plan, the cost is $15 per month. You have the flexibility to cancel it anytime through your account settings, ensuring no further payments. To avoid charges, remember to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. Once canceled, the subscription remains active until the end of the current billing cycle.

Additionally, you can upgrade to the yearly Advanced plan from within your account. The annual cost is $79, and it comes with a data entry service for five reports.

You can always upgrade to a lifetime version with a prorated price from a monthly or yearly subscription.

Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.

Our goal has been to make your Healthmatters account as intuitive as possible.

We’ve crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into your historical test reports.

1. Graph View:

Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.

2. All Tests View

Explore neatly organized reports on a timeline, highlighting crucial details like dates, critical results, and lab/panel names. Each report opens up to reveal in-depth descriptions and additional recommendations for each biomarker. The history of previous results is just a click away, and you can download a comprehensive report for deeper insights. Color-coded and user-friendly, it's designed for easy reading, understanding, and navigation.

3. Table View:

For a holistic view of all biomarkers side by side, our table view is your go-to. Results are neatly displayed in a categorized and dated table, ideal for those with an extensive test history. Utilize sorting, filters, and color-coding to enhance your analysis and gain extra insights.

Yes, you can download information from your account. We can compile your labs into a CSV file. To download all your labs, you can go to Account Settings, and at the bottom of the page, you will find a link to download your information.

Yes, you can print your report. To do so, navigate to "All tests" and open the report you wish to print. You'll find a print button in the right corner of the report. Click on it, and your browser's print window will open. If you prefer to print in a bigger typeface, adjust the scale using the print window settings.

Yes, you can! We highly recommend activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your account. To do so, please navigate to the "Profile and Security" section of your account, where you will find instructions for activating 2FA.

Yes, you can. When entering values for the biomarker, you will see an "Edit Range" button. Click this button, and you'll have the option to enter a custom range.

A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.

The professional account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.

Use promo code to save 10% off any plan.


We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.

At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.