mercury
Mercury is a toxic metal that occurs naturally in rocks, sediments and soil and is particularly harmful to children.
sources of exposure
Most people have heard of the toxic effects of mercury. Sometimes referred to as "Mad Hatter's Disease," mercury poisoning served as the inspiration for the character of the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland.
Mercury is a toxic metal that occurs naturally in rock, sediment and soil. Above-average levels of mercury in the environment are also often associated with volcanic activity. Since mercury is naturally present in coal and oil, it is also released when fossil fuels are burned.
Mercury is used in many products such as batteries, thermometers and thermostats, and it has been used in a variety of industrial processes, particularly in the chemical industry. Mercury can enter the environment through industrial processes, agricultural processes, various products containing mercury (household, commercial and medical), sewage and contaminated sediments. At industrial and hazardous waste sites, spilled or improperly stored mercury can also contaminate soil and groundwater.
Mercury use increased during the Industrial Revolution around 1900, but has declined in recent decades due to health and environmental concerns. Mercury can be present in soil and groundwater where mercury-containing pesticides have been used in agriculture. Outdoor paints containing mercury can also contaminate the soil and groundwater.
Mercury occurs in a variety of forms in the environment, including elemental mercury (the silvery, metallic liquid most of us are familiar with), inorganic mercury, and organic mercury. Inorganic mercury can dissolve in water and is obtained from elemental mercury by natural or industrial oxidation processes.
Organic mercury, also known as methylmercury, is produced from inorganic mercury by certain types of bacteria. This form of mercury is known to accumulate (bioaccumulate) in fish. The fish absorb the mercury and it accumulates in the tissues of their bodies. As a result, the concentration of mercury in fish can be thousands of times higher than in the environment. This mercury can then build up in the bodies of people who eat the fish, leading to health problems.
Possible health effects
Exposure to high levels of mercury can cause the following problems:
- Damage to the brain
- Developing fetuses
- Irritability, tremors, impaired vision, hearing and memory
- Kidney damage
Both inorganic and organic forms of mercury are particularly harmful to children, whose bodies absorb mercury more easily. High exposure to mercury can also damage the brain and the developing fetus. Mercury poisoning is often associated with irritability, tremors, impaired vision, hearing and memory.
Mercury levels above the limit can occur where mercury-bearing mineral deposits are present, where there is volcanic activity, or where soil or groundwater is contaminated with mercury.
The mercury content of most drinking water is too low to have a significant impact on human health. Naturally occurring mercury levels in most drinking water wells are less than 0.5 micrograms per liter. However, mercury levels above the limit can occur where mercury-bearing mineral deposits are present, where there is volcanic activity, or where soil or groundwater is contaminated with mercury. Long-term exposure to mercury above the limit can cause kidney damage. Organic mercury (methylmercury) is rarely found in drinking water.
sources of exposure
Most people have heard of the toxic effects of mercury. Sometimes referred to as "Mad Hatter's Disease," mercury poisoning served as the inspiration for the character of the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland.
Mercury is a toxic metal that occurs naturally in rock, sediment and soil. Above-average levels of mercury in the environment are also often associated with volcanic activity. Since mercury is naturally present in coal and oil, it is also released when fossil fuels are burned.
Mercury is used in many products such as batteries, thermometers and thermostats, and it has been used in a variety of industrial processes, particularly in the chemical industry. Mercury can enter the environment through industrial processes, agricultural processes, various products containing mercury (household, commercial and medical), sewage and contaminated sediments. At industrial and hazardous waste sites, spilled or improperly stored mercury can also contaminate soil and groundwater.
Mercury use increased during the Industrial Revolution around 1900, but has declined in recent decades due to health and environmental concerns. Mercury can be present in soil and groundwater where mercury-containing pesticides have been used in agriculture. Outdoor paints containing mercury can also contaminate the soil and groundwater.
Mercury occurs in a variety of forms in the environment, including elemental mercury (the silvery, metallic liquid most of us are familiar with), inorganic mercury, and organic mercury. Inorganic mercury can dissolve in water and is obtained from elemental mercury by natural or industrial oxidation processes.
Organic mercury, also known as methylmercury, is produced from inorganic mercury by certain types of bacteria. This form of mercury is known to accumulate (bioaccumulate) in fish. The fish absorb the mercury and it accumulates in the tissues of their bodies. As a result, the concentration of mercury in fish can be thousands of times higher than in the environment. This mercury can then build up in the bodies of people who eat the fish, leading to health problems.
Possible health effects
Exposure to high levels of mercury can cause the following problems:
- Damage to the brain
- Developing fetuses
- Irritability, tremors, impaired vision, hearing and memory
- Kidney damage
Both inorganic and organic forms of mercury are particularly harmful to children, whose bodies absorb mercury more easily. High exposure to mercury can also damage the brain and the developing fetus. Mercury poisoning is often associated with irritability, tremors, impaired vision, hearing and memory.
Mercury levels above the limit can occur where mercury-bearing mineral deposits are present, where there is volcanic activity, or where soil or groundwater is contaminated with mercury.
The mercury content of most drinking water is too low to have a significant impact on human health. Naturally occurring mercury levels in most drinking water wells are less than 0.5 micrograms per liter. However, mercury levels above the limit can occur where mercury-bearing mineral deposits are present, where there is volcanic activity, or where soil or groundwater is contaminated with mercury. Long-term exposure to mercury above the limit can cause kidney damage. Organic mercury (methylmercury) is rarely found in drinking water.