How can mercury affect children?
Very young children are more sensitive to mercury than adults. Mercury in the mother’s body passes to the fetus and can pass to a nursing infant through breast milk. However, the benefits of breastfeeding may be greater than the possible adverse effects of mercury in breast milk. If a pregnant woman ingests mercury at high levels, harmful effects that may be passed from the mother to the developing fetus include brain damage, mental retardation, lack of coordination, blindness, seizures, and an inability to speak. Children poisoned by mercury may develop nervous and digestive system problems and kidney damage.
