Is drinking more water helpful for mercury poisoning?

For mild mercury poisoning, drinking plenty of water is generally helpful; however, for severe mercury poisoning, drinking more water is ineffective.

1. Effective

If only a small amount of mercury has been ingested, the patient may develop mild symptoms of poisoning within approximately five minutes, such as dizziness, nausea, and diarrhea. In such cases, drinking large amounts of water can enhance metabolism and help expel mercury from the body more quickly, thereby alleviating symptoms. Mercury poisoning, also known as mercury intoxication, is a toxic condition primarily caused by excessive inhalation or ingestion of mercury or mercury-containing compounds. Mercury poisoning typically has no incubation period and develops rapidly, with symptoms appearing within minutes to tens of minutes.

2. Ineffective

If poisoning results from inhaling large amounts of mercury vapor in a short time, symptoms such as coughing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing may occur. The patient might also experience dizziness, nausea, rash, anuria, coughing, and swollen gums, among other discomforts. In this case, immediate medical attention is required. Targeted supportive treatment should be provided promptly, especially before kidney function becomes impaired.

If a patient develops any symptoms of illness, it is recommended to seek medical care at a hospital as soon as possible.