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

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

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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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SLIDE 8
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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?