Difference between revisions of "Mercury"
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Revision as of 12:35, 24 July 2009
Definition of mercury:
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is a liquid (at room temperature and atmospheric pressure) heavy metal.[1]
This is the common definition for mercury, other definitions can be discussed in the article
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Notes
Natural mercury derives from the weathering of mercury-bearing rocks, volcano's and hydrothermal vents. It's industrial use includes electronics, light bulbs and thermometers. Within these products, mercury doesn't pose a health problem. However when vaporised into the air by factories producing these products, it can be deposited in soils, and be flushed through rivers towards the ocean. Once deposited in anoxic soils, mercury can be transformed by bacteria to methylmercury.
In the Northern hemisphere anthropogenic sources have largely been eliminated since the 1980's. Mercury is the only contaminant (apart from pathogens) that certainly has been responsible for human deaths.. [2] In humans high levels of mercury can cause:[3]
- Disruption of the nervous system
- Damage to brain functions
- DNA damage and chromosomal damage
- Allergic reactions, resulting in skin rashes, tiredness and headaches
- Negative reproductive effects, such as sperm damage, birth defects and miscarriages
See also
Mercury pollutionReferences
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(element)
- ↑ ↑ Kennish, M. J. (1996): Practical Handbook of Estuarine and Marine Pollution, CRC Press 524 pp
- ↑ http://www.lenntech.com/Periodic-chart-elements/Hg-en.htm
