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…
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
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…
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