What’s for dinner?What’s for dinner?It may be something scary like fish!It may be something scary like fish!

“What is so scary about eating

fish?”

Sorry Charlie…Mercury Advisory Sorry Charlie…Mercury Advisory says:says:

Mercury is a toxin.It can be found at dangerous

levels in some fish ( muscle tissue).

The only way to reduce mercury intake is to reduce the amount of contaminated fish you eat.

“How can that be? Look at my beautiful home”

…but some types of pollution can be invisible.

The fish you catch or buy from the grocery store could contain mercurymercury….

…and so can other wild life that eat those fish…

No method of cleaning or cooking removes mercury!

Fish consumption advisories encourage people to limit the amount of fish they eat from mercury contaminated waters.

ask, “What is Mercury?ask, “What is Mercury? “

Element (Hg): A heavy metal• A liquid metal at room temperature• Combines with other metals easily• Conducts electricity• Acts as a fungicide

Mercury is a neuro-toxin and can impair the mpair the central nervous system (brain function)central nervous system (brain function)

Kidney damageKidney damage Tingling or numbness in toes or fingersTingling or numbness in toes or fingers Personality changesPersonality changes

You can do harm to the CNS just by

touching mercury!

• ThermometersThermometers• ThermostatsThermostats• SwitchesSwitches• Pressure GaugesPressure Gauges• Medical InstrumentsMedical Instruments• Fluorescent bulbsFluorescent bulbs• Amalgam FillingsAmalgam Fillings• Batteries (cell phones)Batteries (cell phones)

Mercury has useful properties:• Conducts electricity• Binds to other metals• Only liquid metal

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Alternatives exist: buy non-mercury products

Label and recycle any mercury products properly

NEVER throw mercury in the trash or down the drain!

Why Use Mercury?

Eating mercury-contaminated fish is the most common way people are exposed to mercury. But, did you know that you can also be exposed to dangerous levels of mercury through touching it or from inhaling mercury vapors?

The MAD HATTER character from Alice in Wonderland is based on

actual hat-makers in the 1800’s who were poisoned by mercury vapors. They used to dunk felt hats into vats of liquid mercury and hang them to

dry. Over time, fumes from the vaporized mercury caused severe personality changes; the hatters

literally went “MAD”!

How do we get Mercury Poisoning?

Human ExposureHuman ExposureSkinSkin contactcontact - metal is toxic, acts as poisonInhalationInhalation- mercury evaporates at room

temperature. Eating Eating - most common way, in fish

Going Mad? Going Mad? Mercury InhalationMercury Inhalation

Late 1800’s: hat makersLate 1800’s: hat makers Lighthouse keepersLighthouse keepers

Mercury Sunrise at the ArcticMercury Sunrise at the Arctic

First sunlight: drives chemicals in sea salt to react First sunlight: drives chemicals in sea salt to react with mercury vapor in the airwith mercury vapor in the air

Mercury falls out onto snow Mercury falls out onto snow • Delivers large mercury slug into the Arctic Delivers large mercury slug into the Arctic

ecosystem ecosystem • Happens when the system is most vulnerable: Happens when the system is most vulnerable:

animals and plants are growing fastestanimals and plants are growing fastest

First sunlight: drives chemicals in sea salt to react First sunlight: drives chemicals in sea salt to react with mercury vapor in the airwith mercury vapor in the air

Mercury falls out onto snow Mercury falls out onto snow • Delivers large mercury slug into the Arctic Delivers large mercury slug into the Arctic

ecosystem ecosystem • Happens when the system is most vulnerable: Happens when the system is most vulnerable:

animals and plants are growing fastestanimals and plants are growing fastest

North Pole (Arctic) North Pole (Arctic) • Harsh conditions already existHarsh conditions already exist• Mercury levels in indigenous people show Mercury levels in indigenous people show

higher blood concentrations of mercury higher blood concentrations of mercury because of their dependence on fish for the because of their dependence on fish for the majority of their diet.majority of their diet.

Ingestion Ingestion IncidentsIncidents

Minimata, Japan, Minimata, Japan, 1932-1968 1932-1968 • 27 tons of mercury compounds released into Minimata 27 tons of mercury compounds released into Minimata

BayBay Chisso CorporationChisso Corporation, used mercury as a catalyst, used mercury as a catalyst

• The illness became known as the "Minimata Disease”The illness became known as the "Minimata Disease” first diagnosed: 3 little girls first diagnosed: 3 little girls couldn’t walk or speak, delirious, numbnesscouldn’t walk or speak, delirious, numbness paralysis, deformity, convulsions, deathparalysis, deformity, convulsions, death

Minimata, Japan, Minimata, Japan, 1932-1968 1932-1968 • 27 tons of mercury compounds released into Minimata 27 tons of mercury compounds released into Minimata

BayBay Chisso CorporationChisso Corporation, used mercury as a catalyst, used mercury as a catalyst

• The illness became known as the "Minimata Disease”The illness became known as the "Minimata Disease” first diagnosed: 3 little girls first diagnosed: 3 little girls couldn’t walk or speak, delirious, numbnesscouldn’t walk or speak, delirious, numbness paralysis, deformity, convulsions, deathparalysis, deformity, convulsions, death

Thousands of people were diagnosed, 52 people died within a year of diagnosis

The Chisso Company The Chisso Company was ordered to pay was ordered to pay money to victims in money to victims in 1973, after a 4-year 1973, after a 4-year court battlecourt battle

1960, Iraq1960, Iraq

• Mixed flour with wheat seed that was treated with Mixed flour with wheat seed that was treated with 1% mercury fungicide, over 100 people died1% mercury fungicide, over 100 people died

1963-1965, Guatemala1963-1965, Guatemala

• Bread was made from wheat seed treated with a Bread was made from wheat seed treated with a fungicide containing 1.5% mercury, 45 people died fungicide containing 1.5% mercury, 45 people died (half were children) (half were children)

Ingestion Ingestion IncidentsIncidents

4 police officers reassigned • Tests showed elevated levels of mercury in their

blood: from 14 to 24 micrograms per liter (g/l)

• DOH: Acceptable mercury level is < 13 g/l

4 police officers reassigned • Tests showed elevated levels of mercury in their

blood: from 14 to 24 micrograms per liter (g/l)

• DOH: Acceptable mercury level is < 13 g/l

Ground Zero Clean-upGround Zero Clean-up

Health RisksHealth Risks

• Mercury increases in concentration Mercury increases in concentration from the bottom to the top of the from the bottom to the top of the food chainfood chain

• Bioaccumulation: Bioaccumulation: increase in increase in concentration of a chemical in an concentration of a chemical in an organism over time, compared to organism over time, compared to concentrations in the environmentconcentrations in the environment

• Biomagnification: Biomagnification: increase in increase in concentration of a pollutant from one link concentration of a pollutant from one link in a food chain to anotherin a food chain to another

• Mercury increases in concentration Mercury increases in concentration from the bottom to the top of the from the bottom to the top of the food chainfood chain

• Bioaccumulation: Bioaccumulation: increase in increase in concentration of a chemical in an concentration of a chemical in an organism over time, compared to organism over time, compared to concentrations in the environmentconcentrations in the environment

• Biomagnification: Biomagnification: increase in increase in concentration of a pollutant from one link concentration of a pollutant from one link in a food chain to anotherin a food chain to another

Bio magnification of MercuryBio magnification of Mercury1. Methylmercury accumulates

in zooplankton

2. Zooplankton are eaten by small fish

3. Small fish are eaten by bigger fish

4. Biggest fish are eaten by humans or other animals

Larger fish can have methylmercury concentrations 250,000 times higher than the water they are in!

Mercury Concentrations in N.E. Mercury Concentrations in N.E. Minnesota LakesMinnesota Lakes

Advice for General PopulationAdvice for General Population

Panfish, perch, bullheads Panfish, perch, bullheads Unlimited!Unlimited! All sizes of other species All sizes of other species 1 meal/week1 meal/week Shark, swordfish, mackeral Shark, swordfish, mackeral 1 1

meal/monthmeal/month

Mercury and the Food ChainMercury and the Food Chain

Populations at risk should avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish

CDC reports 1 in 12 women (8%) of childbearing age risk giving birth to infants with neurological disorders due to mercury exposure.

Bio magnification Biotransformation

Effects of High Dose Prenatal Effects of High Dose Prenatal Exposure Exposure (Minimata, Iraq)(Minimata, Iraq)

Mental retardation

Seizures

Cerebral palsy

Disturbances of vision, hearing, sensation

Abnormal gait

Abnormal speech

Disturbances of swallowing and sucking

Abnormal reflexes

Exposure in the WombExposure in the Womb

60,000 babies born with neurological 60,000 babies born with neurological damage due to in utero exposure to damage due to in utero exposure to methylmercurymethylmercury**

“…“…an estimated 375,000 babies being an estimated 375,000 babies being born each year at-risk of neurological born each year at-risk of neurological problems due to exposure to mercury problems due to exposure to mercury in the womb”in the womb”****

*National Research Council, the National Academy of Sciences

**March 2, 2001, Center for Disease Control, Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report

Symptoms and Health EffectsSymptoms and Health Effects

Central nervous system Central nervous system • Loss of hearing or sightLoss of hearing or sight• Loss of memoryLoss of memory• Lack of coordination, muscle spasmsLack of coordination, muscle spasms

Kidney and liver damageKidney and liver damage Tingling/numbness in toes or fingersTingling/numbness in toes or fingers Personality changesPersonality changes

Natural SourcesNatural Sources

VolcanoesWeathering of rockDeep-sea ventsHot springs

Power plants emit Hg Power plants emit Hg when they burn coal or when they burn coal or

other fossil fuels…other fossil fuels…

……garbage incinerators garbage incinerators also release mercuryalso release mercury

Man-made SourcesMan-made Sources

Silver, Gold and Mercury MiningSilver, Gold and Mercury Mining

Mercury mined from cinnabar Gold and Silver Rush

(ex: San Jose) (California)

…and wastewater treatment plants

Total Environmental Releases, 2000Total Environmental Releases, 2000

According the the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), 4,823,836 pounds of mercury and mercury compounds were released into the environment in 2001. (1)

One gram of atmospherically deposited mercury is enough to contaminate a lake with a surface area of 20 acres, or 5 million gallons of water. (2,3)

One gram of mercury can contaminate up to 20 acres of a lake

1 teaspoon of mercury weighs 70 grams

How much mercury are we How much mercury are we talking about?talking about?

In Lakes and Streams Mercury is In Lakes and Streams Mercury is Transformed to a Toxic FormTransformed to a Toxic Form

Bacteria and Chemical ProcessesBacteria and Chemical Processes

MERCURY (HgMERCURY (Hg00))-not bioavailable-not bioavailable

METHYLMERCURY (CHMETHYLMERCURY (CH33Hg+)Hg+)

- Organic, bioavailable, TOXIC!- Organic, bioavailable, TOXIC!

Sources of Mercury Pollution:Sources of Mercury Pollution:Medical and Municipal WasteMedical and Municipal Waste

Municipal waste (thermometers, lights)

• 17 tons of mercury entered the municipal waste stream in 2000 from fever thermometers alone.

• Sale, import and manufacture of mercury thermometers now illegal in many states, including California

Medical waste (blood pressure gauges, lab chemicals) (1)

• 84 grams of mercury in one blood pressure gauge

• 45 grams of mercury in a mercury-weighted bougie

Sources of Mercury Pollution:Sources of Mercury Pollution: National PerspectiveNational Perspective

According to EPA's 1997 Mercury Study Report to Congress, coal-fired electric utilities are the largest source of human-caused mercury air emissions in the U.S. Utilities are followed by:

1. Municipal waste combustors (19 percent);

2. Medical waste incinerators (10 percent);

3. Hazardous waste combustors (4+ percent).

Learn which products contain mercury Buy mercury-free alternatives Recycle mercury-containing products Keep mercury OUT of the garbage

Charlie needs YOU to take Charlie needs YOU to take care of this mercury problem!care of this mercury problem!

Prior to 1980’s, mercury was used in alkaline

batteries

Today, button batteries still contain mercury

ThermostatsThermostats• Most thermostats

contain 3 grams of mercury

All these lamps are All these lamps are energy efficient. energy efficient. They They

are excellent are excellent environmentalenvironmental

choices….choices….

……but they need to but they need to be managed and be managed and recycled recycled properly to properly to keep keep mercurymercury out of out of the environment!the environment!

When fluorescent lamps are recycled, they are When fluorescent lamps are recycled, they are transformed into FOUR reusable materials:transformed into FOUR reusable materials:

Glass, phosphor powder, aluminum, and mercury Glass, phosphor powder, aluminum, and mercury

Tilt switches can be in cars.

They operate a light that goes on when the hood or trunk of the car is opened

Each switch contains about one gram of mercury

There can even be mercury in older tip-up lights for ice fishing…

Mercury is generally

considered stable in our

amalgam, fillings…

..but dental offices need

to keep wastes out

of the trash!

About 50% of a “silver filling”

is mercury

Mercury Mercury products products

should not should not end up in end up in the solid the solid

waste waste stream!stream!

Reducing mercury emissions/sources to the environment will help our fish remain healthy and non-toxic…

Thank you, Charlie

…and protect our environment both now and the future.

Resources for more informationResources for more informationEnvironmental Protection Agencywww.epa.gov/mercury

Health Care Without Harmwww.noharm.org

Mercury Policy Projectwww.mercurypolicy.org

Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles www.psrla.orgSan Francisco Bay Area Physicians for Social Responsibility www.sfbaypsr.orgPhysicians for Social Responsibility National www.psr.org

In Harm’s Way: Toxic Threats to Child Development (Greater Boston PSR) http://psr.igc.org/ihw.htm

Hospitals for a Healthy Environmentwww.h2e-online.org

Sections of this slide show are from Sections of this slide show are from

the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the Superior Wastewater Treatment Plant. the Superior Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Deb Kumar 7/20/06 Deb Kumar 7/20/06