Administration of Metallic Mercury by an Accidental Puncture in the Hand: A Case Report

Mercury is a heavy metal of known toxicity. Human toxicity varies with the form of mercury, the dose and the rate of exposure. Subcutaneous injection of elemental mercury is very rare and usually accidental. Diagnosis of mercury overload is difficult. The commonly used modalities (blood, urine, and/or hair levels) reflect recent exposure, and do not correlate with total body burden. We present a case of accidental subcutaneous administration of mercury in the hand and discuss its management. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/jmc810w