Submitted by Professional_Try_384 t3_y0x6wp in askscience
[deleted] t1_irx9ihx wrote
Reply to comment by common_sensei in What makes mercury so toxic? by Professional_Try_384
Specifically the sulfhydryl bonds of delta and notch proteins which are used to differentiate stem cells in the nervous system.
BluetoothXIII t1_iry2ygc wrote
I didn't know the mechanism only that organic Mercury molecules could pass the blood brain barrier easier.
Metallic Mercury is the least dangerous one Mercury salts are deadly Organic Mercury is the worst of them As a generalisation for oral consumption mechanism
[deleted] t1_is06q1h wrote
Monomethylmercury is pretty bad, but dimethylmercury or diethylmercury, or anything in between will destroy a nervous system in 6 months with as little as 1mg coming into contact with the skin. I believe EDTA if used as a chelating agent for 2 weeks post exposure is known to decrease the trauma by a large amount.
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