Mercury pollution is a dangerous environmental problem around the world. One way in which people are exposed to mercury is through eating contaminated fish.
Some mercury is natural in the environment.Some comes from our intentional uses of mercury, and some is a polluting byproduct of burning coal and certain mining and manufacturing processes.
ENVIRONMENTAL & HEALTH EFFECTS OF MERCURY
3 most common forms of mercury:
- elemental
- inorganic and
- methylmercury
These three forms of mercury can produce adverse health effects at sufficiently high doses.
EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH:
1. Eating mercury-contaminated fish is the primary route of exposure to mercury for most people
2. Inhaling elemental mercury, the vapor given off when mercury is heated, can also be dangerous
3. Mercury can damage human health because it is toxic to the nervous system - the brain and spinal cord - particularly the developing nervous system of a fetus or young child.
4. Adults who have been exposed to too much methylmercury might begin to experience trembling hands and numbness or tingling in their lips, tongues, fingers or toes. These effects can begin long after the exposure occurred. At higher exposures, walking could be affected, as well as vision, speech and hearing. In sufficient quantities, methylmercury can be fatal.
5. Damage occurring before birth or in infancy can cause a child to be late in beginning to walk and talk and may cause lifelong learning problems. Unborn children can be seriously affected even though the methylmercury causes no symptoms in their mothers.
EFFECT TO THE ENVIRONMENT:
Fish are the main source of food for many birds and other animals, and mercury can seriously damage the health of these species. Loons, eagles, otters, mink, kingfishers and ospreys eat large quantities of fish. Because these predators rely on speed and coordination to obtain food, mercury may be particularly hazardous to these animals.
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1 comment:
Excellent article. People should be aware of both the risks and benefits of seafood. The decision of what fish to eat can be a challenge and often contradictory. At the very least, people should know that FDA and EPA have issued advisories about mercury contamination in commonly-sold fish. The problem is, this information is hard to find and is not usually available where it is most necessary: your supermarket.
Oceana, a conservation group, is trying to get major grocery companies to post this government advice at their seafood counters. Thanks, in part to their work, Whole Foods, Safeway stores, and Wild Oats voluntarily agreed to post the FDA’s recommendations and they have had positive responses from customers and no loss in seafood sales. But other companies like Costco and Giant Eagle have refused to do so. Oceana has a list of which companies care about their customers’ health enough to post this advice, as well as a list of companies that don’t. You can get the Green List and Red List at their website.
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