HUMAN  HEALTH  CONCERNS
                                                                     Public Health in New England
                                                    MERCURY
    Elemental  Mercury
      U.S.  EPA  |  PUBLIC  HEALTH  OUTREACH  AT  EPA  NEW  ENGLAND
EPA  SCIENTISTS  seek to provide citizens and regulators with
information about pollutants or naturally occurring compounds linked
to health problems. As part of our mission  to protect human  health,
EPA  provides important information about  types of health  problems
caused by substances in the environment, how likely is it that people
will experience problems when exposed, and  how severe this harm
may  be.
INTRO:
Mercury is a naturally occurring element in the Earth's crust. This pure mercury, also called elemental mercury, is a
shiny, silver-white metal that, at room temperature, is a liquid metal. Mercury, sometimes called "quicksilver", volatizes
(is converted into a colorless, odorless gas or vapor) when it is heated. Mercury can be found in some consumer
products like thermometers and thermostats, switches, certain types of light bulbs, batteries, and is also found in blood
pressure instruments, some jewelry, and even in skin-lightening creams. Elemental mercury also sometimes is used in
religious practices. Mercury used for these purposes is called azogue.
RISK  TO  HUMAN  HEALTH:
The  most  common  path of exposure  to  elemental
mercury is  breathing mercury vapor. Exposure occurs
when elemental mercury or products containing elemen-
tal mercury break or spill, releasing mercury into the air,
particularly in warm or poorly-ventilated  spaces. Expo-
sure occurs when humans breathe mercury vapors which
then  are absorbed into the lungs. Although  elemental
mercury is not readily absorbed by the skin or stomach,
humans still can be exposed when handling mercury by
inhaling vapors.

Exposures to mercury can negatively impact the human
nervous  system  and  severely harm the brain,  heart,
kidneys,  lungs, and immune system.  Short-term expo-
sure  to  high levels of elemental mercury vapors may
cause negative health impacts including nausea, vomit-
ing, diarrhea, high blood  pressure or rapid heart rate,
skin rashes, eye irritation, as well as irritant  effects to
the respiratory system and lungs, including coughing and
sore  throat. Long-term health  impacts depend on the
amount  and length of time of exposure to  elemental
mercury. High levels of exposure can result in damage
to the central nervous system, liver and kidney damage,
respiratory failure, and death. People concerned about
their  exposure to elemental  mercury should consult a
physician.
USE OF MERCURY  OR  AZOGUE:
Mercury is extremely dangerous to human health and should
be avoided. Persons who use elemental mercury, or azogue,
for religious practices may be at particular risk of exposure.
Mercury should never be played with or used by children
for science projects or experiments. Mercury should never
be ingested. Products containing mercury should be stored
and handled responsibly to reduce risk of human exposure.
SPILLS, DISPOSAL,  RECYCLING:
Spills from broken thermometers or mercury-containing
light bulbs, should be cleaned up  and properly disposed
of immediately following EPA recommended guidelines for
safe handling of mercury.  Instructions for cleaning up spills,
storing, transporting and disposing of mercury can be found
at www.epa.gov/mercury/spills. Any time one pound
(the equivalent of two tablespoons) or more of mercury
is released into the environment, it  is mandatory to call the
National Response Center hotline at 800-4243802.

Other important mercury contacts  are MA Department of
Environmental Protection Mercury Hotline (866-9Mercu-
ry), MA Department of Public Health Bureau of Environ-
mental Health (617-624-5757), Agency for Toxic Substanc-
es and Disease  Registry (800232-4636), and American
Association of Poison Control Centers (800222-1222).
KEY CONTACTS:


JERI WEISS
EPA New England
Mercury Contact
(617) 918-1568
weiss.jeri@epa.gov


GENERAL INFO:


EPA NEW ENGLAND
5 Post Office Square
Suite 100
Boston,  MA 02109-3912
(617) 918-1111
www.epa.gov/region1/

TOLL-FREE
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1-888-EPA-7341

LEARN  MORE  AT:
www.epa.gov/region1/
eco/mercury
L              United States
              Environmental Protection
              Agency
 © printed on 100% recycled paper, with a minimum of 50% post-consumer waste, using vegetable-based inks
                                                              EPA-901-F-11-018
                                                                  August 2011

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