Mercury Pollution

With the well-being of future generations in mind, environmental concerns have begun to establish a permanent residence atop the priority ladder for a vast array of Americans. Consequently, writers and political pundits alike are seizing this opportunity to capitalize on advocating their stance on the issue. Information, representing all positions, pours in at an unrelenting and unfathomable rate. For the average American it can be an arduous process sifting through all the rhetoric in attempt to find the real truth regarding our impact as humans on the environment; one such example is Susan Brown’s article The EPA’s Mercury Problem. In this article Brown attempts to expose hypocrisy among progressives by paralleling the Environmental Protection

Volcanic activity around the world has been associated with high level of mercury in the area. In a 20 year research on 100 different volcanoes around the world, it was estimated that 1140 metric tons of mercury were released into the earth atmosphere, and the average flux would be 57 metric tons. The degassing plumes of 35 around the world volcanoes release 752 metric tons of mercury, and the average flux is 37.6 tons (1). Mercury geochemical belts can form in the Mediterranean, and contain richly valued mercury deposits in the upper layer. Mediterranean has two major sources of natural contamination volcanoes and seawater. Volcanoes Etna, Vulcano and Stromboli, where measured for amount of mercury they released into the atmosphere. Vulcano had mercury emission ranging from 1.3 to 5.5 kg/year, and Stromboli had levels of 7.3 to 76.6 kg/year. Etna had extremely high fluctuated readings ranging from 61.8 to 536.5 kg/year (2). Volcanoes on islands can have high amounts of methyl mercury in oceans and lakes around them, and this is due to the submarine ground water discharge from them. This means that any mercury discharge can flow out across the sea floor, but this can vary depending on the permeability of the volcano rock.

Additionally, the effect of mining rocks is clear all over the world. For instance, according to the book, ‘The Amazon Gold Rush and Environmental Mercury Contamination,” the author mentions mercury contamination of waterways in the Amazon around gold mines. The problem is the extensive effluent that is discharged into the rivers and streams. The effect on marine life can be deleterious. The importance of the Amazon area to sustain the global equilibrium in the environment has been recognized worldwide. This has been much more accentuated in the present days due to the intense debate related to global warming. Consequently, all initiatives or studies directed to a better knowledge and management of that huge environment are welcome and needed.

While liquid gold may be a modern allegory for something desirable, there is another liquid metal that is quite the opposite of desirable. Mercury is an unusual metal in that in its standard elemental form it is a liquid. Due to the increase in industry over the last 100 years, Mercury levels have risen, which cause serious damage to humans.

As already stated, many other locations around the world are affected by mercury poisoning and contamination. For example, Canada and Japan have an extensive history of mercury poisoning, including neurologic symptoms and contaminated fish. These studies have has been documented since the 1950’s in these locations. In fact, the contamination became so problematic the Ontario health department formed a task force on organic mercury in 1972. Further, recent protesting throughout Toronto has asked for Canada to address the contamination of mercury. Findings revealed levels of mercury exceeding those of international standards and included the highest recorded mercury contamination among in the western part of the world. (CITE 6)

It can be released anthropogenically, naturally or re-emitted by some combination of the previous two sources but most mercury was originally released from anthropogenic activities [8]. Burning fossil fuels and small-scale gold mining are the main sources of these anthropogenic emission [9].

Mercury is an element that can be found in our environment through air, water and soil. Being exposed to constant levels of mercury may be detrimental to one’s overall health since it can impact the nervous, digestive and immune systems of human (WHO). In 1960, the demand of Mercury (Hg) increased significantly as it was needed in many commercial and medical practices, despite its high toxicity levels (dwivedi). Thus, the increase in mercury consumption was due to industrialization. Mercury should be gaining increased medical concerns as it can impact the lives of several classes of society. In Canada, it is found that the vast majority of marine mammals contain methylmercury (MeHg) (Laird). Methylmercury is highly more lethal than Mercury

26 January 2009 a study published in the current issue of Environmental Health, researchers found detectable levels of mercury in nine of twenty samples of commercial HFCS.

My ocean issue is Mercury pollution in fish. Mercury pollution in fish is an issue because it causes defects in human and wildlife development and function. If mercury polluted fish is consumed by a pregnant woman or one that is breastfeeding it causes many problems for the unborn baby. According to nrdc.org “more than 75,000 babies are born each year with a greater risk of learning disabilities because of their mothers’ mercury exposure” those disibililaties include learning and Intellectual dissorders. Wildlife is affected by this as well. If birds consume the fish it become very hard for them to either care for their eggs or rarely lay eggs at

One of the disadvantage of mercury is that it is toxic in nature due to which it has to be handled with care. Due to which it can result in death of people if they get mercury poisoning and if it is not treated in time. Due to mercury we are now able to make thermometers and barometers which has helped the people a lot. Due to it has helped us to find

Dr. Sharon Jean-Phillipe is an assistant professor of Urban Forestry at the University of Tennessee in the department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries. She has earned her Bachelors of Science in biology, Masters of Science in Botany, and Doctor of Philosophy in Natural Resources. Her speech on April 7th concerned the details of her dissertation research which studied the effects of mercury contaminants on tree diversity and soil composition.

Solar energy does not emit any of these gasses into our atmosphere. It also avoids polluting water, land and air which could threaten human and animal life. Coal power plants are the biggest producers of mercury in the us which has caused 44 states in the US to issue fish consumption advisories and warning because of the mercury laden on fish. Solar energy do not produce mercury.

Unfortunately, these pollutants can be carried in the atmosphere by weather systems. Thus, they can travel for hundreds of miles causing damage as they go. Acid deposits in the soil can have devastating affects in the forest. It gradually causes the loss of plant nutrients, calcium and magnesium. This leads to dying off of trees in the forest. Also, acid deposits in lakes and streams have led to a drop in fish production. Mercury is another source of pollution which can be harmful to humans and wildlife. It comes from the emissions of coal-burning power plants and is deposited into the air and water. This chemical damages the nervous system, and has a detrimental affect on reproduction and prenatal development.

The article describes briefly how the mercury ends up in the fish we eat, how the rain grabs the mercury from the atmosphere and deposits it into the lakes and oceans. Because of the food chain, the largest of the aquatic animals will have the highest amount of mercury, whales and sharks for example. So, communities high in whale and shark consumption will show the greatest risk of mercury poisoning.

People can come in contact with mercury in a number of ways. There is increased risk of mercury exposure in the dental, health and chemical industries. People are also at risk of consuming an unsafe amount of mercury if they eat certain things in excess amounts, such as more than 6 ounces of albacore tuna per week, or over 12 ounces of fish like shrimp, canned tuna, salmon, pollock or catfish. Exposure to mercury can cause brain damage, kidney damage, lung damage and various digestive system problems (McCoy). Perhaps the person most vulnerable to mercury poisoning is the pregnant woman and her unborn fetus. Trauma caused to infants and children as a result of