MERCURY GLASS SKIN

It can adversely affect a baby's growing brain and nervous system. Methylmercury exposure in the womb can result from a mother's consumption of fish and shellfish. Foetuses are most susceptible to developmental effects due to mercury. Generally, two groups are more sensitive to the effects of mercury. the route of exposure (inhalation, ingestion or dermal contact).

the age or developmental stage of the person exposed (the foetus is most susceptible).

An example of acute exposure would be mercury exposure due to an industrial accident.įactors that determine whether health effects occur and their severity include: However, some people are exposed to high levels of mercury, including acute exposure (exposure occurring over a short period of time, often less than a day). Most people are exposed to low levels of mercury, often through chronic exposure (continuous or intermittent long term contact). Exposure to mercuryĪll humans are exposed to some level of mercury. However, exposure mainly occurs through consumption of fish and shellfish contaminated with methylmercury and through worker inhalation of elemental mercury vapours during industrial processes. People may be exposed to mercury in any of its forms under different circumstances. For example, large predatory fish are more likely to have high levels of mercury as a result of eating many smaller fish that have acquired mercury through ingestion of plankton. Methylmercury then bioaccumulates (bioaccumulation occurs when an organism contains higher concentrations of the substance than do the surroundings) in fish and shellfish. Once in the environment, mercury can be transformed by bacteria into methylmercury. Human activity is the main cause of mercury releases, particularly coal-fired power stations, residential coal burning for heating and cooking, industrial processes, waste incinerators and as a result of mining for mercury, gold and other metals. It is released into the environment from volcanic activity, weathering of rocks and as a result of human activity. Mercury occurs naturally in the earth's crust.

MERCURY GLASS SKIN

These forms of mercury differ in their degree of toxicity and in their effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, and on lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes. Mercury exists in various forms: elemental (or metallic) and inorganic (to which people may be exposed through their occupation) and organic (e.g., methylmercury, to which people may be exposed through their diet).

Mercury glass