Many chemicals are safe to handle but negatively impact the environment in the long run. Other chemicals such as arsenic are toxic even in the smallest amounts. Mercury is a natural element that occurs throughout our environment and solar system. It has unique properties (i.e liquid metal at room temperature) and can be found in very small concentrations in many rocks and is the main component of the mineral cinnabar. Natural background levels can be detected in soils, living organisms, air, and water around the world. Mercury is still used today in a wide variety of products and processes. It is used (although with less and less frequency) in the paper and pulp industries, batteries, thermometers, fluorescent lights, in some vaccines, and
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According to many studies done, no other chemical affects the brain as drastically as mercury. Even worse, the organs cannot break down mercury. Also, scientists do not know of any way in which mercury is beneficial to our health. Mercury surrounds us in low levels but once it reaches a certain point of concentration, it may cause mercury poisoning. Along with mercury poisoning, comes many painful and negative short-term symptoms that impact the nervous system and muscles such as; rashes, numbness, tremors, slurred speech, and tooth loss. Some long-term effects of mercury are organ damage, wellness issues, and most importantly, negative effects on fetuses, children, and eventually the birth defects that will cause complications and impact them throughout their lives. When mercury in, for example, paper/pulp mills is not filtered and ends up in the water supply of a group of peoples, it can have detrimental effects on the health and well-being of the community. When mercury enters a major water source such as a river in a first nations reserve (grassy narrows), it can accumulate and poison the water along with all the animals (i.e fish) living in it. When the contaminated fish is caught and eaten, the mercury also exists in the person. Mercury is also extremely harmful to infants and children as it can cause leukemia and genetic
According to many studies done, no other chemical affects the brain as drastically as mercury. Even worse, the organs cannot break down mercury. Also, scientists do not know of any way in which mercury is beneficial to our health. Mercury surrounds us in low levels but once it reaches a certain point of concentration, it may cause mercury poisoning. Along with mercury poisoning, comes many painful and negative short-term symptoms that impact the nervous system and muscles such as; rashes, numbness, tremors, slurred speech, and tooth loss. Some long-term effects of mercury are organ damage, wellness issues, and most importantly, negative effects on fetuses, children, and eventually the birth defects that will cause complications and impact them throughout their lives. When mercury in, for example, paper/pulp mills is not filtered and ends up in the water supply of a group of peoples, it can have detrimental effects on the health and well-being of the community. When mercury enters a major water source such as a river in a first nations reserve (grassy narrows), it can accumulate and poison the water along with all the animals (i.e fish) living in it. When the contaminated fish is caught and eaten, the mercury also exists in the person. Mercury is also extremely harmful to infants and children as it can cause leukemia and genetic