Air borne mercury is highly toxic when inhaled. How does it get in the air?
Metallic mercury slowly evaporates when exposed to the air. The air in a room can reach unhealthy levels just from the mercury in a broken thermometer; Mercury may be released into the air when coal, oil, or wood are burned as fuel or when mercury-containing wastes are incinerated. The resulting mercury concentrations in outdoor air are usually low and of little direct concern. However, mercury in the air can fall to the ground with rain and snow, landing on soil or in bodies of water, causing contamination. Lakes and rivers are also contaminated when there is a direct discharge of mercury-laden industrial or municipal waste into the water. When mercury enters bodies of water, biological processes transform it to methylmercury, a highly toxic and bioaccumulative form. Fish can absorb methylmercury from their food and directly from water as it passes over their gills. The cycle of mercury in nature is complex. This illustration summarizes how methylmercury accumulates at the higher leve
Related Questions
- Compact fluorescent lamps contain mercury, which is a highly toxic substance. Do compact fluorescent lamps represent a danger to health because of that?
- Compact fluorescent lamps contain mercury, which is a highly toxic substance. Do compact fluorescent lamps represent a danger to health because of that?
- Air borne mercury is highly toxic when inhaled. How does it get in the air?
- Can each individual be tested for exposure to toxic air pollutants?
- What Level of Mercury is Considered Toxic?
- What Level of Mercury is Considered Toxic?
