Fact Sheet - Mercury

• Exposure to mercury occurs from breathing contaminated air, ingesting contaminated water and food, and having dental and medical treatments.

 

• Exposure to high levels of metallic, inorganic, or organic mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidneys, and developing fetus.

 

• Short-term exposure to high levels of metallic mercury vapors may cause effects including lung damage, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, and eye irritation.

 

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that mercuric chloride and methylmercury are possible human carcinogens.

 

• An infant may be exposed to mercury through breast milk.

 

• Mercury passed from the mother to the fetus may cause brain damage, mental retardation, incoordination, blindness, seizures, and inability to speak.

 

• To reduce exposure to mercury, carefully handle and dispose of products that contain mercury, such as thermometers or fluorescent light bulbs.

• Twenty thousand tons of mercury are released into the environment each year by human activities such as combustion of fossil fuels and other industrial releases.

Bullets:  Remove Bullets  Disc ( )  Circle ( )  Square ( )  Clover ( )  Arrow ( )  Numbers (1, 2, 3...)