Mercury

= = ** Mercury ** toc

= __Abstract__ =

Mercury is used by the United States and many other major powers although it can be very harmful to a person and their environment. It is used it household objects medical tools and its harms are still overlooked. Although Mercury is not very abundant but it tends to be centered and so a lot can be found at once. This results in Mercury being relatively cheap giving more expensive alternatives less weight, but the real question is, "How much would you pay to be safe.

Mercury is liquid metal meaning it is a metallic substance that is liquid at room temperature making it a lot easier to be ingested. The results that come from ingesting too much Mercury are not pleasant in the slightest. Ingesting Mercury results in Mercury poising. Most Mercury poisoning happens through fish. Mercury is very hard for your body to digest so it sticks around your body, clogging up kidneys, liver, and arteries resulting in heart attack stroke and even death. High levels of Mercury in the environment, often caused by mining, can have detrimental affects. Animals, specifically aquatic animals and their predators can ingest high doses of Mercury resulting in death and reproductive problems for most. Politically it is not a highly emphasized problem but its been banned in many products. Thermometers, batteries, and even iPhones have used Mercury in the past, but government regulation has kept them from the current day market.

We believe that Mercury should be taken off the consumer market as whole, banning it from use with the exception of educational reasons. Mercuries toxicities far outweigh the benefits brought from it. It would be a good idea for the government to invest in alternatives for the currently Mercury pertaining materials being manufactured and imported to and from the US. Thermometers have already been regulated as have many others but this is not enough. Apple saw the problems Mercury could cause in their iPhone so they invested in magnets, this may have been a lot more expensive, but there are also no lawsuits of Mercury poisoning in their records yet. The regulators must provide alternatives from which the market to choose from such as digitizing thermostats, low sodium vapor tubes in light bulbs, and even replacing dental filling the use Mercury with gold or polymers. These alternatives may not be in the best interest of the big corporations that have to make the changes, but it is in the interest of our health. Once again "What would you pay to be safe".

=** __Background__ **=

Mercury, also known as quicksilver, is one of the most toxic elements in the world. Mercury (Hg) has an atomic cumber of 80 and an atomic mass of 200.59 AMUs. The first record of a presence of mercury was in books kept from the ancient Egyptians. Mercury is primarily mined near the springs and volcanoes of Italy and Spain. One of the reasons for mercury's toxicity is the fact that it is the only liquid metal at room temperature. This allows it to have the effect of swallowing a heavy metal when ingested. Mercury can also be harmful through the process of bioaccumulation; bioaccumulation is when mercury poisoning is passed through the food chain, eventually effecting all species throughout the chain.

Mercury is used in many household products, although a lot of these are current banned, they are still around, and some still produced. The most well known would be their use in older thermometers, because of Mercury's ability to expand at higher temperatures and retract at lower ones. The Thermometers can be broken and the Mercury will seep into the environment of your home, slowly evaporating into the air. Mercury can also be found in florescent light bulbs in a vapor form from which it can escape when broken. Mercury can even be found shots, most notably flu shots, where it is used as a cheap preservative. The Mercury will sink to the bottom of the vile, resulting in what statistics show as a greater chance for children to develop autism if they are given a shot from the bottom of this vial.

=** __Summary__ **=

Mercury has been around and used for many things such as flu shots, lipstick, thermometers, barometers, and even candy. Although many are currently banned, they are still found in many household products; some of them are still produced. Perhaps the most well known, mercury is used in thermometers due to mercury's ability to expand at higher temperatures and contract at lower ones. Mercury is also used in fluorescent light bulbs and flu shots. The question at hand is why are all of these items still produced if they pose a threat to human life? Some of the “good things” may be useful in particular circumstances; however, they are terrible in others. Fluorescent light bulbs are more energy efficient then regular incandescent ones. If they were to break, the dangerous chemical is dispelled in vapor forms.Thermometers are also important. If thermometers break then the mercury inside will slowly disperse throughout the air. As the poisonous chemical flows through the air, the chance of inhalation increases. One of the most unexpected, clothing irons also contain mercury. Mercury is certainly a major danger to the environment and the world around us. Prior to purchasing any mercury-containg product, remember the harmful effects presented on this page. With this information, all consumers have the ability to make an informed decision.

Stay Healthy. Stay Informed.

= __Public Service Announcements__ =

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