MERCURY AND THE EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGANISMS Environmental Toxins - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

mercury and the effects on living organisms
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MERCURY AND THE EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGANISMS Environmental Toxins - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

MERCURY AND THE EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGANISMS Environmental Toxins CU Boulder Jun 2013 INFORMATION ABOUT MERCURY Exists in several forms Travels by air, land and water Harms living organisms Man-made


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MERCURY AND THE EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGANISMS Environmental ¡Toxins ¡ CU ¡Boulder ¡Jun ¡2013 ¡

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INFORMATION ABOUT MERCURY

  • Exists in several forms
  • Travels by air, land and water
  • Harms living organisms
  • Man-made creations are the largest cause for

mercury exposures

  • http://www.youtube.com/v/QVu5js60PWI
  • http://www.epa.gov/hg/about.htm
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WHAT IS MERCURY

  • The only metal that is

in liquid form

  • Also known as

quicksilver

  • Atomic number 80
  • http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~scintech/

mercury/Whatis_mercury.htm

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WHERE IT CAN BE FOUND

  • Thermometers
  • Fluorescent Lamps
  • Sphygomanometers
  • Vaccine preservative
  • Medical wastes
  • Rocks
  • Volcanoes
  • http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~scintech/

mercury/Whatis_mercury.htm

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WHY IS IT USED

  • CHEAPER
  • LIGHTER IN WEIGHT
  • LONGER SHELF

LIFE

  • MORE DURABLE
  • http://connectingthecoast.uwex.edu/

Investigate/cpMercury.html

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DISCOVERED TO BE A HEALTH RISK

In 1997 a study that was conducted concluded that mercury posed as a health risk to some humans and wildlife such as fish.

http://www.usgs.gov/themes/factsheet/146-00

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HEALTH EFFECTS

  • Respiratory Problems (Lungs)
  • Cardiovascular Problems (Heart)
  • Cancer
  • Neurological Problems (Brain)
  • Eye irritation
  • http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mercury/docs/HealthEffectsMercury.pdf
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EXPOSURE PREVENTION

  • Lobby for preservative

free vaccines

  • Replace household

items with mercury- free

  • Avoid consuming

exposed fish

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WAYS TO REDUCE RISK OF EXPOSURE

  • ALTERNATE YOUR

DIET

  • REDUCE INTAKE OF

FISH SUCH AS TUNA

  • EAT MORE

BROCCOLI TO BALANCE YOUR INTAKE

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REFERENCES

  • http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mercury/docs/

HealthEffectsMercury.pdf

  • http://www.epa.gov/region07/education_resources/

teachers/ehsstudy/ehs5.htm

  • http://www.usgs.gov/themes/factsheet/146-00/
  • http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~scintech/

mercury/Whatis_mercury.htm

  • http://www.epa.gov/hg/about.htm
  • http://www.usgs.gov/themes/factsheet/146-00
  • http://connectingthecoast.uwex.edu/Investigate/

cpMercury.html

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Questions?