MERCURY AND THE EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGANISMS Environmental Toxins - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

MERCURY AND THE EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGANISMS Environmental ¡Toxins ¡ CU ¡Boulder ¡Jun ¡2013 ¡

INFORMATION ABOUT MERCURY ● Exists in several forms ● Travels by air, land and water ● Harms living organisms ● Man-made creations are the largest cause for mercury exposures ● http://www.youtube.com/v/QVu5js60PWI ● http://www.epa.gov/hg/about.htm

WHAT IS MERCURY ● The only metal that is i n liquid form ● Also known as quicksilver ● Atomic number 80 http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~scintech/ ● mercury/Whatis_mercury.htm

WHERE IT CAN BE FOUND ● Thermometers ● Fluorescent Lamps ● Sphygomanometers ● Vaccine preservative ● Medical wastes ● Rocks ● Volcanoes http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~scintech/ ● mercury/Whatis_mercury.htm

WHY IS IT USED ● CHEAPER ● LIGHTER IN WEIGHT ● LONGER SHELF LIFE ● MORE DURABLE http://connectingthecoast.uwex.edu/ ● Investigate/cpMercury.html

DISCOVERED TO BE A HEALTH RISK In 1997 a study that was conducted concluded that mercury posed as a health risk to some humans and wildlife such as fish. http://www.usgs.gov/themes/factsheet/146-00

HEALTH EFFECTS ● Respiratory Problems (Lungs) ● Cardiovascular Proble ms (Heart) ● Cancer ● Neurological Problems (Brain) ● Eye irritation http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mercury/docs/HealthEffectsMercury.pdf ●

EXPOSURE PREVENTION ● Lobby for preservative free vaccines ● Replace household items with mercury- free ● Avoid consuming exposed fish

WAYS TO REDUCE RISK OF EXPOSURE ● ALTERNATE YOUR DIET ● REDUCE INTAKE OF FISH SUCH AS TUNA ● EAT MORE BROCCOLI TO BALANCE YOUR INTAKE

REFERENCES ● http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mercury/docs/ HealthEffectsMercury.pdf ● http://www.epa.gov/region07/education_resources/ teachers/ehsstudy/ehs5.htm ● http://www.usgs.gov/themes/factsheet/146-00/ ● http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~scintech/ mercury/Whatis_mercury.htm ● http://www.epa.gov/hg/about.htm ● http://www.usgs.gov/themes/factsheet/146-00 ● http://connectingthecoast.uwex.edu/Investigate/ cpMercury.html

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