Product Information
- Blue ointment
- Diluted mercurial ointment
- Hydrargyrum
- Liquid silver
- Mercure
- Mercuric Metal Triple Distilled
- Mercurio
- Mercurius
- Mercurius solubilis
- Mercurius vivus
- See more synonyms
- Mercury element
- Mercury metal 99.99+ % for analysis
- Mercury solution 10 000 ppm
- Mercury solution 1000 ppm
- Mercuryredistilled
- Quecksilber
- Quicksilver
Mercury is a reactive metal that has been used in the past as a scrubber for coal-fired power plants. It can be found in elemental form, as well as in the form of compounds with other elements. Mercury can cause skin cancer when it comes in contact with human skin. The most common source of mercury exposure is from ingestion, although inhalation and dermal absorption are possible routes. Mercury's toxicity is due to its ability to inhibit enzymes that are involved in cellular metabolic pathways such as DNA synthesis and protein synthesis. This inhibition leads to cell death by apoptosis or necrosis. Mercury also binds to copper ions, forming a complex called mercuric copper chloride, which inhibits the activity of copper-dependent enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase. This binding causes an increase in oxidative stress within the cells, leading to cell death. Mercury can be detoxified by certain enzymes including glutathione S-transferases and cytochrome P450s.
