Mercury Informative Speech
What is mercury?
Mercury (Hg) is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil. It exists in several forms: elemental or metallic mercury, inorganic mercury compounds, and organic mercury compounds. It is a shiny metal, silver-white color, volatile and odorless liquid metal. The exposure to mercury can affect and harm human health, environmental and wildlife.
How is mercury released into the environment?
Mercury can be released into the environment through leaks and spills of the medical devices like thermometers. Also, mercury could be released through the emissions of coal-burning power plants. It can be released by natural sources like volcanoes. But, the most important way to be released to the environment is naturally formation in the ground and then washed into groundwater or surface water. Some of the mercury found in water can volatile to the atmosphere.
How can I be exposed to mercury?
Drinking water contaminated with mercury. Breathing air that contains volatile mercury. Skin contact with mercury. Lastly, eating fish that has been contaminated with mercury.
What will happen if I am exposed to mercury?
The most dangerous exposure is breathing air and eating fish that has been contaminated with highly amount of mercury. It could cause …show more content…
some serious health affects:
• Memory loss.
• Muscle weakness.
• Disturbances in sensations.
• Impairment of speech, hearing and walking in children.
• Affecting the growth of brain and nervous system on babies.
• Harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system.
How can I tell if I have been exposed to mercury?
There are some symptoms associated with the period of time exposure to mercury.
Symptoms associated for short-term exposure include cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, increase in blood pressure or heart rate, eye irritation and headache. On the other hand, the long-term exposure to mercury include anxiety, excessive shyness, sleeping problems, loss of appetite, irritability, fatigue, forgetfulness, tremors, changes in vision and changes in hearing. A urine test is preferred for measuring mercury. Urine samples may be collected over a 24-hour period. A blood test can be used to measure exposure to high levels of mercury if you can be tested within three days of being
exposed.
What do I do if I think I have been exposed to mercury?
If you experience symptoms that are indicative of exposure to mercury, immediately seek medical attention by calling your physician. Doctors may be able to identify exposure and health risks by measuring the amounts of mercury in blood, urine, breast milk, finger and toenails, and hair. Also, it is a great idea to call the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
What is being done to protect me?
RCRA requires hazardous wastes to be properly treated before being disposed of. EPA has set treatment standards for all hazardous waste, including mercury, disposed of into or on land. RCRA also includes storage, disposal, recordkeeping, reporting, and transportation requirements for hazardous wastes that contain mercury.
EPA also works with industry to promote voluntary reductions in mercury use and releases, and with partners in state, local and tribal governments to improve their mercury reduction programs.
Best Mercury Company has verity of treatment and remediation methods to ensure the safety of the public as well as the safety to the environment. These valuable steps have been taken to ensure a safe environment for our children and a better plant for the world.
Mercury (Hg) is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil. It exists in several forms: elemental or metallic mercury, inorganic mercury compounds, and organic mercury compounds. It is a shiny metal, silver-white color, volatile and odorless liquid metal. The exposure to mercury can affect and harm human health, environmental and wildlife.
How is mercury released into the environment?
Mercury can be released into the environment through leaks and spills of the medical devices like thermometers. Also, mercury could be released through the emissions of coal-burning power plants. It can be released by natural sources like volcanoes. But, the most important way to be released to the environment is naturally formation in the ground and then washed into groundwater or surface water. Some of the mercury found in water can volatile to the atmosphere.
How can I be exposed to mercury?
Drinking water contaminated with mercury. Breathing air that contains volatile mercury. Skin contact with mercury. Lastly, eating fish that has been contaminated with mercury.
What will happen if I am exposed to mercury?
The most dangerous exposure is breathing air and eating fish that has been contaminated with highly amount of mercury. It could cause …show more content…
some serious health affects:
• Memory loss.
• Muscle weakness.
• Disturbances in sensations.
• Impairment of speech, hearing and walking in children.
• Affecting the growth of brain and nervous system on babies.
• Harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system.
How can I tell if I have been exposed to mercury?
There are some symptoms associated with the period of time exposure to mercury.
Symptoms associated for short-term exposure include cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, increase in blood pressure or heart rate, eye irritation and headache. On the other hand, the long-term exposure to mercury include anxiety, excessive shyness, sleeping problems, loss of appetite, irritability, fatigue, forgetfulness, tremors, changes in vision and changes in hearing. A urine test is preferred for measuring mercury. Urine samples may be collected over a 24-hour period. A blood test can be used to measure exposure to high levels of mercury if you can be tested within three days of being
exposed.
What do I do if I think I have been exposed to mercury?
If you experience symptoms that are indicative of exposure to mercury, immediately seek medical attention by calling your physician. Doctors may be able to identify exposure and health risks by measuring the amounts of mercury in blood, urine, breast milk, finger and toenails, and hair. Also, it is a great idea to call the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
What is being done to protect me?
RCRA requires hazardous wastes to be properly treated before being disposed of. EPA has set treatment standards for all hazardous waste, including mercury, disposed of into or on land. RCRA also includes storage, disposal, recordkeeping, reporting, and transportation requirements for hazardous wastes that contain mercury.
EPA also works with industry to promote voluntary reductions in mercury use and releases, and with partners in state, local and tribal governments to improve their mercury reduction programs.
Best Mercury Company has verity of treatment and remediation methods to ensure the safety of the public as well as the safety to the environment. These valuable steps have been taken to ensure a safe environment for our children and a better plant for the world.