What are the health effects of mercury exposure and how does it get into our bodies?
Mercury is of concern because elevated concentrations can be toxic . High concentrations of mercury can harm the central nervous system, including body coordination, eyesight, and hearing. Mercury is not quickly eliminated from the body and can be passed from women who are pregnant to fetuses through the umbilical cord. This is a key concern because early life stages of development appear to be especially sensitive to mercury. Emissions of mercury to our air (primarily as inorganic mercury) can end up in surface waters like the Delaware River and Bay. Once delivered to the water, the inorganic mercury can get converted to methylmercury, which is then rapidly taken up by fish and other aquatic life. Consumption of fish is therefore the primary way we get exposed to mercury. Certain fish, like swordfish and tuna, are a particular risk because they are at the top of the aquatic food chain and have therefore accumulated the highest levels of mercury. By contrast, directly breathing inorgan
