The Pros And Cons Of Mercury

Mercury and its compounds are reproductive and developmental toxics and considered to be legally toxic under the Canadian Environment Protection Act. These releases of mercury and its compounds are to be virtually eliminated under the agreement of Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Releases of mercury into the air can lead to increased levels of mercury in fish. Mercury is one of the contaminants that limits our consumption of fishes from the Great Lakes. One study reports increased rates of hospitalization for cerebral palsy in the Great Lakes communities and suggests that this may be from the community exposure to the methyl mercury by consuming the contaminated fishes (Gilbertson, 2004). When pregnant women eat mercury contaminated fish,