after a person is exposed to a hazardous substance, it is sometimes possible to measure that substance in a biological sample such as the blood or the urine. These biological sampling results can be valuable because they indicate the degree of a person's exposure. Biological sampling results can also serve as a valuable indicator of decreasing levels of the hazardous substance in the body. The levels can decrease either because of the natural clearing processes of the body over time, because of medical treatments, or because of both time and treatments. Staff at occupational health clinics can help primary care physicians interpret biological sampling results for mercury from adults or children. They have more experience, typically from patients with workplace exposures, than most health care providers. New York State Department of Health has a list of occupational health clinic locations and contact numbers in NYS.
Pediatricians can help parents with questions about biological sampling if children are exposed to mercury. If sampling is indicated, pediatric environmental health physicians and occupational health clinics can help interpret the results. Children who have had mercury poisoning may require periodic neurological examinations for follow-up.