PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND MONITORING OF HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH MERCURY EXPOSURE IN HUMANS AND ANIMALS
Keywords:
mercury, toxicity, biomonitoring, human and animal health, methylmercury, environmental pollution, diagnostics, prevention, ecological risks.Abstract
This article provides a comprehensive review of current data on the health risks of mercury exposure in humans and animals. Based on recent international studies (WHO, ATSDR, UNEP, Minamata Convention) and toxicological reports, it analyzes sources, pathways, and mechanisms of mercury toxicity, including elemental, inorganic, and organic (methylmercury) forms. Diagnostic and biomonitoring methods (blood, urine, hair, and exhaled air analysis) are summarized to assess both acute and chronic exposures. Special attention is given to food chain contamination, particularly through fish and seafood consumption, and to the impact on the nervous, reproductive, and immune systems. Preventive strategies include emission reduction, ecological monitoring, and population screening. The findings emphasize the need for an integrated health-environment surveillance system to mitigate mercury-related risks to humans and wildlife.
