The Drug-Induced Respiratory Disease Website and App

Mercury fumes/vapor

Inhaled metallic (fluid) mercury (Hg°) especially of heated mercury acts mainly as a neurotoxicant. Mercury vapor or fumes are particularly toxic when fluid mercury is heated and boils in a confined space. ARDS and fatal respiratory failure may develop. ARDS may affect several family members when Hg-containing material (fluid Hg, amalgams) is heated in the home or occupational setting. Heated mercury (boiling point 356,7°C) is particularly noxious. Injected fluid mercury in Munchausen syndrome, illicit drug abusers or secondary to breakage of old pressure sensors may lodge in the pulmonary circulation causing distinctive imaging features. Review on the toxic effects of environmental mercury at PMID 24744824

Frequency - Incidence

Incidence of respiratory adverse event(s) due to the specific drug as assessed by number of reported/published cases in the literature. Red digits in stars indicate: 0 = Very rare, questionable signal · 1 = < 10 cases · 2 = 10-50 cases · 3 = 50–100 cases · 4 = 100-200 cases · 5 = >200 cases

Evidence level/grade

Evidence level for respiratory adverse event(s) due to the specific drug as estimated using Hill’s (1965), Naranjo’s (1981), and Bégaud’s (1985) criteria applied to published cases. Blue digits in stars indicate: 0 = Questionable · 1 = Low · 2 = Moderate · 3 = Robust · 4 = Definite · 5 = Unquestionable, pathognomonic