The element and the
environmental concerns.
 Mercury is a
naturally occurring element in nature that is toxic to humans and wildlife.
It is particularly harmful when products containing mercury are spilled,
discarded down drains or incinerated as waste. Once mercury is released
into the air it will fall back to the ground in rain and snow,
contaminating soils and water bodies. Bacteria in aquatic ecosystems can
convert mercury to organic methylmercury – a potent neurotoxin – that
bioaccumulates (builds up) in organisms and becomes more concentrated as it
travels up the food chain, where it can accumulate in the tissues of fish
and shellfish. Consumption of contaminated fish is a significant health
concern leading to fish consumption advisories in most states, including
Pennsylvania.
The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) have advised pregnant women, women of childbearing age who may become
pregnant, nursing mothers and young children to check local advisories
about the safety of fish caught in local lakes, rivers and coastal areas.
According to a February 2004 EPA analysis, 630,000 of the 4 million
American babies born each year are at risk of impaired motor function,
learning disabilities, memory and vision due to the high levels of mercury
in their bloodstream.
The
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection participates in
different programs and strategies to monitor, reduce and prevent mercury
from entering the environment. To learn more about the effects of mercury,
programs Pennsylvania is involved with, or what you can do for the safe
handling and disposal of mercury containing products use the links
provided.
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