Mercury pigments

Home treatment:

Call Poison Control.

Before calling emergency:

Determine the following information:

• the patient's age, weight, and condition
• name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength if known)
• the time it was swallowed
• the amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

• Use gastric lavage.
• Administer activated charcoal.
• Administer a cathartic (a bowel evacuator).
• Give an antidote.
• Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

Not listed.
Mercury is not the only metal used as a pigment; other metals include lead, iron, arsenic, copper salts, and aniline.