Mercury



**__Mercury's chemical symbol comes from the Greek word hydrargyrum, which means "liquid silver."__** Mercury is a natural occurring chemical.It exists in three forms: elemental or metallic mercury, inorganic mercury, and organic mercury. It's unique chemical and physical properties allows it to be used in a variety of household, medical, electrical devices, and other industrial applications. **__Some uses of Mercury are__**: **Mercury Vapor is used in streetlights, flourescent lamps and advirtising signs. **
 * To make thermometers
 * Barometers
 * Other scientific instruments
 * Used to conduct electricity
 * Batteries
 * To make silent, position dependent switches

Mercury is also used in a wide viariety of household products including paint, thermometers, batteries, antiseptics, and fluorescent lamps. These items release Mercury into the enviroment and inside a home when broken, mishandled, or disposed. If spilled, Mercury absorbs into many household materials while slowly evaporating into the air.


 * This inorganic mercury can enter the air from deposits of ore that contain mercury, from burning coals and wastes, and from emissions by factories that use mercury. Organic compounds of mercury may be released in the soil through the use of mercury-containing fungicides. Metallic mercury can evaporate easily into the air and be carried a long distance before returning to water or soil in rain or snow. Once mercury enters lakes, rivers, or oceans in any form. **

**Humans may also be exposed to mercury from breathing contaminated workplace air or by skin contact during use in the workplace (dental,chemical, and other industries that use mercury). Exposure may also occur by breathing vapors in air from spills, incinerators, and industries that burn mercury-containing fuels.** In addition to Mercury, children might be exposed to a viariety of enviromental toxicants encountered in indoor and outdoor enviroments of the home, child care setting, school or work place. About 15,000 uncontrolled hazardous waste sites exist through the United States, with 1,508 sites proposed or listed on the National Priorities List ( NPL ).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 88.46%;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">The nature and extent of health effects from exposure to mercury will depend on the amount to which a person is exposed. The nervous system is sensitive to all forms of mercury. Methylmercury is more toxic than many other forms because more mercury in this form reaches the brain. Exposure to high levels of metallic, inorganic, or organic mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidneys, and developing fetus. Pregnant women and young children are more ** <span style="color: #0c00ff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">//<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Mercury commonly enters the human body through inhalation, skin absorption of consumption. Symptons of Mercury poisoning can include coughing, chest pain, painful breathing, insomnia, anf fatigue .//


 * There are no known facts to prove that Mercury causes Cancer in humans or animals.**

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Tests are available that measure the amount of mercury in blood, urine, breast milk, or hair samples.However, most of these tests do not determine the form of mercury to which one is exposed. Mercury in urine is used to test for exposure to metallic mercury vapor and to inorganic forms of mercury.**

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">THE MINAMATA CASE STUDY: <span style="color: #1c1ce3; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The Minamata Bay was polluted with the industrial waste from the chisco corporation, which manufactured acetaldehyde used to make plastics. The Mercury that the company used in the procuction process was discharged into the bay, incorporated into bacteria, and pass through the food chain to people living in the area. The people in the town were slowly poisoned by their most important food source: fish. The consequences of such at the time, scienctist had not yet documented the hazardous of Mercury, and enviromental awarness was not pervasive.

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 150%;">__ATSDR:__ <span style="color: #729301; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry <span style="color: #729301; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Goal: Prevent ongoing and future exposures and resultant health effects from hazarous waste sides and releases. Goal: Determine human health effects associated with exposure to superfund related priority hzardous substances.

The ( ATSDR ) is the principal federal public health agency charged with the responsibility of evaluating the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances. The agency works in a collaboration with local, state, and other federal agencies, with tribal goverments, and with communities and local health care providers.

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">__HSEES__: <span style="color: #729301; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance <span style="color: #729301; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Goal: Describe the distribution od hazardous substances emergencies in Utah. Goal: Describe the injuries and death experienced by employees, first respondes, and the general public.

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;"><span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Bibliography:
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