Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/ask-dr.-sue-mercury-in-the-environment-a-danger-to-children/5015258/
Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature. It has been a source of fascination for centuries. Many of us remember accidentally breaking a thermometer when we were children. Some of us played with the silvery mercury beads.Mercury has long been used in industry and medicine. However interesting and useful it is, mercury is a highly toxic environmental pollutant. Of particular concern is mercury's toxicity to the developing central nervous system of children.
Forms and sources of mercury
Mercury occurs in three forms - elemental, inorganic, and organic. Each form has its own toxicity profile. Everyone is exposed to small amounts of mercury.
Elemental mercury (also known as metallic mercury or quicksilver) is liquid at room temperature and readily vaporizes. Elemental mercury is found in thermometers and blood pressure cuffs. These mercury-containing devices have been used extensively in homes, hospitals, and health care facilities. Mercury has been used as part of dental amalgams to fill teeth for almost 200 years. Other sources of mercury include fluorescent light bulbs (usually 2' to 4' tubes) and disc (button) batteries.
Environmental contamination occurs when these items are buried in landfills or burned in waste incinerators rather than ...