The mention of mercury piques your interest. Upon further questioning, you determine that the mercury was stored in a Tupperware container on a shelf in front of the living room window air conditioner, however some was spilled on the sofa. After vacuuming up the spill, the patient and his brother watched TV in that room. In addition, each had slept on the sofa or on the living room rug during the recent hot weather since it is the only room in the apartment that is air-conditioned.

You now think your patient may be suffering from mercury toxicity. You consult with a Clinical Toxicologist who agrees the patient's symptoms are consistent with elemental mercury poisoning. He recommends obtaining a spot urine specimen for mercury level, plus a serum mercury level. You also order a chest x-ray.

Before proceeding to the lab, the patient receives a stat albuterol nebulizer treatment. Fifteen minutes later, his PEFR still shows no improvement, although he appears to be in no acute distress.