By Elizabeth Hong and Jack Phillips

Menu (click on subjects to go to page and click on SUSHI to come back here) Introduction to Mercury Effect on Economics Effect on Human Health (Methylmercury) (Elemental Mercury) (Other Mercury compounds) Introduction to Mercury Effect on Economics Effect on Human Health Introduction to Mercury Effect on Economics (Methylmercury) (Elemental Mercury) (Other Mercury compounds) Effect on Human Health Introduction to Mercury Effect on Economics

Introduction Mercury, one of the only two elements that is liquid at standard temperature and pressure, is a chemical metal element with the symbol Hg (from Latinized Greek: Hydrargyrum-meaning watery-argyros-silver). Mostly found around the world in the form of cinnabar, this element can be highly toxic by ingestion or inhalation of dust. (“Mercury”). Mercury is used in many scientific and scientific research applications despite the concerns of the harmful effects of mercury poisoning. It is one of the mostly used resources in the world today.

Economics Throughout the 1990s, the United States EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) reduced mercury emissions from anthropogenic sources (70% of mercury found in the world). However, the U.S. EPA has recently proposed to slow this progress because of its high costs of pollution abatement. (Environ.) This lost productivity is the major cost of methyl mercury toxicity and up to $1.3 billion each year is attributable to mercury emissions. This significant toll threatens the economic health of the United States. (Environ.)

Health Mercury poisoning is deadly and harm humans specifically based on the three forms of mercury: Methylmercury, Elemental mercury, and other mercury compounds. The factors that determine how severe the effects include: the form of mercury, the dose, the age of person that is exposed, the duration of exposure, route of exposure, and the health of the person who is exposed. (“Health.”)

Methylmercury The primary effect of methylmercury is impaired neurological development. (“Health.”) Exposure in the womb, caused by the mother’s consumption of fish and shellfish that contain mercury, affect the baby’s growing brain and nervous system by impacting cognitive thinking, memory, attention, language, and fine motor skills. More of serious effects include impairment of peripheral vision, disturbances in sensations, lack coordination, impairment of speech and hearing, and muscle weakness.

Elemental Mercury This mercury primarily causes health effects when breathed as a vapor where it can be absorbed through the lungs. (“Health.”) People are usually exposed to elemental mercury in warm or poorly-ventilated indoor spaces where it is exposed from the leakage of mercury substances. Some effects include tremors, emotional changes, insomnia, neuromuscular changes, headaches, and changes in nerve responses. At higher exposures there may be kidney effects, respiratory failure, and even death.

Other Compounds There are organic and inorganic compounds of mercury. High exposures to inorganic compounds result in damage to the gastrointestinal tract, the nervous system, and kidneys, and symptoms include: skin rashes, mood swings, memory loss, mental disturbances, and muscle weakness. (“Health.”) Both organic and inorganic compounds are absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract, but organic compounds are more easily absorbed through ingestion than inorganic compounds.