Mercury Contamination

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Mercury Contamination

• Brett Gramse

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Objectives

• Identify sources of mercury contamination
• Describe adverse human health affects
• Show how contaminations build in an aquatic
  ecosystem
• Identify current and past uses of mercury in
  industry

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Major Sources of Emission
Natural
Man-Made

• Coal-burning power plants and other forms of
  fossil-fuel combustion
• Municipal waste
• Mining
• Chlor-Alkali plants

• Volcanic eruptions
• Forest fires
• Oceanic releases

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Process of Fish Contamination in Aquatic
Ecosystems

• Emission
• Contaminated precipitation
• Inorganic to organic methylmercury (most
  dangerous form)
• Deposit in fish populations
• Bioaccumulation prey to predator
• Result Highest concentrations of methylmercury
  in predatory fish species.

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Everyday Uses Past and Present

• Fluorescent Lamps
• Thermometers
• Barometers
• Batteries
• Dental amalgams (fillings)
• Electrical instruments (switches, conductors,
  etc.)
• Paints

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Potential Human Health Effects

• Extensive brain damage
• Spinal cord impairment
• Inflammation of the kidneys and skin
• Pulmonary edema- fluid in the lungs
• Increased blood pressure
• Irregular heart beats
• Impaired memory
• Muscle spasms
• Fever

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Why Is This Issue Important?

• Environmental Implications
• Economical Implications
• Health effects
• Recreational consequences