The toxicology of mercury and its compounds

A concentrated review on the toxicology of inorganic mercury together with an extensive review on the neurotoxicology of methylmercury is presented. The challenges of using inorganic mercury in dental amalgam are reviewed both regarding the occupational exposure and the possible health problems for the dental patients. The two remaining mysteries of methylmercury neurotoxicology are also being reviewed; the cellular selectivity and the delayed onset of symptoms. The relevant literature on these aspects has been discussed and some suggestions towards explaining these observations have been presented. (C) 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.