Health
Pure metal mercury is easily absorbed by inhalation, ingestion or through the skin.
General health effects of mercury poisoning in humans include:
General health effects of mercury poisoning in humans include:
- Nerve damage
- Damage to brain functions (loss of learning abilities, personality changes, tremors, vision changes, deafness, muscle in-coordination and memory loss)
- Kidney and intestinal damage
- Lung and eye irritation
- DNA alteration
- Allergic reactions; skin rashes, tiredness and headaches
- Negative reproductive effects (e.g. birth defects and miscarriages)
Widespread Mercury Poisoning
In 1971-72, several nations sent wheat grain for planting in Iraq as an aid during a famine. However, the seeds had been treated with a methylmercury-containing fungicide to preserve them, and the hazard warnings were written in Spanish. Instead of planting the seeds, which would have had harmless crop, many people milled the seeds directly into flour, and consumed contaminated bread. 6,530 persons were hospitalized and there were around 500 casualties. The use of methylmercury as a fungicide has been suspended in the United States.
In 1958, chemical industries around Minamata Bay, in Japan, were discharging mercury waste into the water. This toxin entered the aquatic food chain (see Environment below for more) and was consumed by the people of the region. There were 68 casualties and 397 others suffered neurological effects.
In 1971-72, several nations sent wheat grain for planting in Iraq as an aid during a famine. However, the seeds had been treated with a methylmercury-containing fungicide to preserve them, and the hazard warnings were written in Spanish. Instead of planting the seeds, which would have had harmless crop, many people milled the seeds directly into flour, and consumed contaminated bread. 6,530 persons were hospitalized and there were around 500 casualties. The use of methylmercury as a fungicide has been suspended in the United States.
In 1958, chemical industries around Minamata Bay, in Japan, were discharging mercury waste into the water. This toxin entered the aquatic food chain (see Environment below for more) and was consumed by the people of the region. There were 68 casualties and 397 others suffered neurological effects.
Environment
If mercury contaminates surface waters or soils microorganisms can convert it to methylmercury, a toxic substance which is easily adsorbed by most organisms. Fish, as part of aquatic environments, are an example of a predator that accumulate significant amounts of mercury as they eat smaller organisms who have a lower concentration of the toxin, and gain a higher concentration themselves. In general, mercury concentrates in animal/fish tissues in increasing amounts up the food chain (biomagnification). This fact effects humans who rely on these food sources, and other predators. There is evidence that loons have reproductive and immune problems from eating mercury contaminated fish.
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