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Mercury
Substance and Sources
Health Effects
Avoiding Mercury: Living the Science Recommendations and Resources
Do More
Research References

Substance and Sources:

What is Mercury?

Mercury (Hg) is a heavy metal and is liquid at or near room temperature. Mercury is mostly obtained from the mineral cinnabar and is deposited worldwide. Although Mercury is harmless in insoluable forms (e.g. mercuric sulfide) it poisonous in its soluble forms (e.g. mercuric chloride, methylmercury).

Common Sources:

Although most modern uses of mercury tend to be industrial (e.g used to make laboratory equipment and some types of telescopes), mercury is a very common ingredient in mascara and is present in nearly all dental amalgams. Humans are often exposed to mercury when they consume fish that have stores of mercury in their bodies. Larger fish like shark, swordfish, and tilefish  tend to store larger amounts of mercury in their tissues.

Health Effects:

When ingested, approximately 95% of mercury is absorbed into the body. The half-life for mercury in the body is approximately 70 days. It is slowly excreted from the body, mainly in feces. Given the slow clearance of mercury from the body, chronic exposure (exposure on a regular basis) can lead to a build up of mercury in body tissues.

Moderate to acute mercury exposure has been linked to increases in heart rate and blood pressure, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, frequent nosebleeds, impaired thyroid functioning, problems with menstruation, infertility, birth defects, neurologic abnormalities such as mental retardation and autism, and a number of other series health effects.

Mild to acute exposure has been shown to increase the risk of many other conditions including perhaps most notably, neurologic abnormalities such as problems with attention and memory and mild to severe changes in behavior and personality. Women and men exposed to mercury at mild to moderate levels have been shown to have decreased fertility and be more likely to have offspring die during pregnancy or born with birth defects.

Living the Science Recommendations and Resources: Mercury

Books With More Information About Mercury in Fish

Books With More Information About Heavy Metals in our Food

Books With More Information About Toxins in Cosmetics

Tuna with Certified Low Levels of Mercury

Organic Cosmetics


Do More:

Several organizations including the Sierra Clubare working to help keep our food and water safe. Consider joining this or another organization doing this important work.
 

Research References

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