Why do older people have mercury in their thyroids?
Mercury in the human thyroid gland: Potential implications for thyroid cancer, autoimmune thyroiditis, and hypothyroidism
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Mercury was found in thyroid cells of people as young as 1 year old, suggesting exposure begins very early in life.
Most assume heavy metal accumulation happens over decades from diet or fillings — but finding it in infants implies prenatal or early childhood exposure is significant.
Practical Takeaways
Consider reducing exposure to dental amalgams, contaminated fish, and air pollution — especially if you're over 50.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Mercury was found in thyroid cells of people as young as 1 year old, suggesting exposure begins very early in life.
Most assume heavy metal accumulation happens over decades from diet or fillings — but finding it in infants implies prenatal or early childhood exposure is significant.
Practical Takeaways
Consider reducing exposure to dental amalgams, contaminated fish, and air pollution — especially if you're over 50.
Publication
Journal
PLoS ONE
Year
2021
Authors
R. Pamphlett, P. Doble, D. Bishop
Related Content
Claims (7)
Exposure to mercury is linked to a higher likelihood of developing autoimmune thyroid disease, and cadmium exposure interferes with the production of thyroid hormones.
When toxins like mercury or lead build up in the body, they can confuse the immune system into thinking the thyroid is an enemy, causing it to attack the thyroid by mistake.
About 1 in 5 adults have traces of mercury in their thyroid gland, and the older you are, the more likely you are to find it there — suggesting mercury builds up in the thyroid as people age.
Scientists found tiny amounts of mercury in cells of the thyroid gland, but they didn't check if people with this mercury had thyroid problems — so we can't say mercury causes thyroid disease.
Not everyone has mercury in their thyroid gland, and when it is there, it doesn't show up everywhere—it's scattered in small patches, which might mean the thyroid picks up mercury in a selective way.