16. Mercury in environment

Question 1

Mercury is the main component of what mineral?

Answer 1

Cinnabar (HgS)

Question 2

Where is mercury found in gaseous state

Answer 2

volcanoes
Base metal smelting
Gold mining also create mercury vapour

Question 3

What are the 3 main industries of US mercury consumption

Answer 3

1. Coal- Powered Power plants (HIGHEST)
2. Municipal waste combustors
3. Medical waste incinerators

Question 4

Power plants emission in 1990, 2005 and reduction

Answer 4

59- 53-10

Question 5

Municipal waste combustors in 1990, 2005 and reduction

Answer 5

57-2-96

Question 6

Medical waste incinerators emission in 1990, 2005 and reduction

Answer 6

51-1-98

Question 7

How does mercury enter enviroenment

Answer 7

coal and oil fired power plants emit mercury

Question 8

what did EPA legislation want to do

Answer 8

1. prevent 90% mercury entering air
2. Reduce 88% of acid gas emissions
3. Reduce 41% of sulfur dioxide emissions
   (NEVER MET TARGETS)

Question 9

Elemental form of mercury is what state

Answer 9

Liquid

Question 10

Inorganic state of mercury is what

Answer 10

Mercuric chloride
Mercurcic sulfide

Question 11

organic state of mercury is what

Answer 11

methyl, ethyl, dimethyl mercury, WITH CARBON GROUP

Question 12

what is mercury converted to with bacteria in sediments

Answer 12

Methylmercury

Question 13

what does Methylmercury do in sea animals

Answer 13

Biomagnification, higher in bigger animals
100% absorbed by intestinal tract

Question 14

what is Methylmercury

Answer 14

major source of organic mercury for humans

Question 15

chemical formula of Methylmercury

Answer 15

[H3CHg]+

Question 16

Methylmercury is avoided by what groups

Answer 16

Kids and pregnant women and women of childbearing age

Question 17

Summarize mercury existence

Answer 17

1. coal-fired power plants emitt Mercury
2. Mercury is rained down to earth
3. bacteria turns Mercury into methylmercury (toxic)
4. Biomagnification
5. Accumulates in humans while eating seafoodHe

Question 18

what type of toxin is Mercury

Answer 18

a reproductive and potent neurotoxin

Question 19

why is Mercury bad for pregnancy

Answer 19

can cross placenta and cause irreversible neurological damage to fetus

Question 20

how many women in US have Mercury high enough to cause neuro damage in their children?

Answer 20

1 in 10
400,000 babies

Question 21

What are health effects of Mercury

Answer 21

• CNS goes bad
• Impaired hearing, speech, vision
• Involuntary muscle movements
• corrodes skin and mucous membranes
• hard to chew and swallow
• Severe: Death

Question 22

what mineral was iraq poison grain disaster about

Answer 22

MethylMercury

Question 23

which year was iraq poison grain disaster

Answer 23

1971

Question 24

what was grain treated with

Answer 24

methylmercury fungicide

Question 25

where was grains imported from

Answer 25

america and mexico

Question 26

why didn't anyone find grain weird

Answer 26

foregin labelling late distrubution

Question 27

what happened to iraqi residents

Answer 27

Paresthesia (numbness of skin) Ataxia (Lack of muscle coordination) Vision loss

Question 28

how many people died in grain ordeal in Iraq

Answer 28

459

Question 29

where did minamata disease occur

Answer 29

japan

Question 30

what is minimata disease

Answer 30

neuro syndrome caused by mercury poisoning

Question 31

symptoms of minimata

Answer 31

ataxia numbness muscle weakness vision loss hearing and speech problems

Question 32

how did minimata disease happen

Answer 32

Methylmercury released in industrial waste water from 1932 to 1968

Question 33

what happened after release

Answer 33

accumulated in shellfish and fish people ate and got poisoned

Question 34

how many people were victims

Answer 34

2265 1784 died

Question 35

why is methylmercury so easily accepted by body

Answer 35

because cysteine and methylmercury look like methionine so easy binding

Question 36

where else did minimata diseas occur in canada

Answer 36

ontario

Question 37

which first nations communities did it affect

Answer 37

Grassy Narrow and whitedog

Question 38

how many percent of ontario showed signs of poisoning

Answer 38

90%

Question 39

What is dental amalgam

Answer 39

Dental filling to fill cavities , used for over 150 years silver fillings

Question 40

what is dental amalgam made of

Answer 40

liquid mercury, and silver tin and copper alloy

Question 41

how much mercury is in dental amalgam

Answer 41

50% by weight

Question 42

why is it called amalgam

Answer 42

it means elemental mercury reacts with alloys to form an amalgam

Question 43

how are dental amalgams made

Answer 43

- drills tooth, remove decay - shapes tooth for placement - powdered alloy mixed with liquid mercury - its soft then after applied, turns hard

Question 44

is mercury is dental amalgam same as the ones in fish

Answer 44

No because fishes had the organic form- methylmercury

Question 45

what can dental amalgams release

Answer 45

elemental mercury can slowly release mercury vapour

Question 46

how is mercury vapour abosrbed

Answer 46

lungs

Question 47

how is methylmercury absorbed

Answer 47

digestive tract

Question 48

benefits of dental amalgams

Answer 48

- strong, long-lasting, cheap

Question 49

what does FDA say about dental amalgams

Answer 49

safe for adults and children 6+

Question 50

are dental amalgams used in canada

Answer 50

Yes mercury can be released with chewing so reaches body organs and reaches placenta

Question 51

how much mercury is absorbed by canadians through dental amalgams

Answer 51

nine millionths of a gram each day through food 3 millionths through dental amalgams

Question 52

are dental amalgams mercury levels of concern

Answer 52

no, doesn't cause illness, not that level yet, over 50% population believes that dental amalgams can cause health problems