The Sources and Hazards of Mercury

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The Sources and Hazards of Mercury

• By Colin McCoy
• Environmental Science Specialist
• Montana Department of Environmental Quality

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Presentation Topics

• What is Mercury?
• Where does it come from?
• What is it used for?
• What are its health effects?
• What are its environmental impacts?

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What is Mercury?
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Mercury is

• A very useful Metal.
• A liquid at room temperature.
• Element 80, symbol is Hg elemental.
• It is found naturally and as an introduced
  contaminant in the environment.
• Also called Quicksilver.
• A toxin.

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Where does mercury come from?

• It is mined in Alaska, Spain, Italy and France.
• It is usually extracted from cinnabar ore.

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Uses for Mercury (Hg)

• Extraction of gold from ore
• Barometers, thermometers and manometers
• Lighting (fluorescent bulbs)
• Vaccine Preservative
• Rat poison, Disinfectant, Skin Ointment
• Paints and Colors
• Fur treatment (caused mad-hatters disease)
• Tattoo pigments

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Some Common Commercial Products Containing Mercury

• Thermostats
• Fluorescent Lamps
• Thermometers
• Manometers
• Button Cell Batteries
• Dental Amalgams
• Commercial/Industrial Heating and Cooling
  Equipment

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Human Sources of Mercury

• Commercial Mining
• Bethel, Alaska
• Air
• Coal Fired Power Plants
• Manufacturing
• Fossil Fuel Combustion

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Why is Mercury Dangerous?

• Because it accumulates in your body.

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http//www.cleartheair.org/reports/Mercury_White_P
aper.pdf
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Mercury Fish Consumption Advisories
http//www.cleartheair.org/reports/Mercury_White_P
aper.pdf
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Methyl Mercury

• Created by microorganisms from free mercury in
  soil or water
• Is absorbed quickly by living organisms and
  causes nerve and brain damage

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The Health Hazards of Mercury

• Disruption of the Nervous System
• Damage to Brain Functions
• DNA and Chromosomal Damage
• Allergic Reactions
• Negative Reproductive Effects
• Liver cell necrosis
• Kidney necrosis or failure

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Disruption of the Nervous System

• Alkyl organic mercury has high lipid solubility
  and can cross the blood brain barrier
• Accumulates in the brain, kidney, liver, hair,
  and skin
• Decreases communications across nerve synapses
• Prevents acetylcholine synthesis.
• Blocks neurotransmitter dopamine.

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Mercury blocks dopamine transporters.
http//www.cleartheair.org/reports/Mercury_White_P
aper.pdf
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Mercurial effects on nerve cells (dendrites)
http//www.cleartheair.org/reports/Mercury_White_P
aper.pdf
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Damage to Brain Functions

• In a developing fetus it can cause mental
  retardation, lack of coordination or inability to
  move, and 2nd generation mongolism.
• It causes the degradation of learning abilities,
  personality changes, tremors, vision changes,
  deafness, muscle incoordination and memory loss

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Allergic Reactions

• Symptoms
• Skin Rashes
• Tiredness
• Headaches

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Negative Reproductive Effects/ DNA and
Chromosomal Damage

• Chromosomal damage is known to cause mongolism.

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What can be done to avoid mercury?

• Limit the amount of fish in your diet.
• Especially limit you diet of predatory fish such
  as shark and albacore.
• Use digital thermometers, manometers, and
  barometers.
• Recycle switches and fluorescent bulbs to keep it
  out of the environment.
• Use the least amount of electricity possible to
  keep coal burning at a minimum.
• Encourage the development of environmentally
  friendly energy in your area such as solar or
  wind power.

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For recycling in Montana take CFLs to

• Palmer Electric - Missoula
• Consolidated Electric Distributing Kalispell
• ACE hardware

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Any Questions?
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References

• http//www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic813.htm
• http//www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp46-c2.pdf
• http//www.lenntech.com/Periodic-chart-elements/Hg
  -en.htm
• http//www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/mercury/whatyoudo.htm