Effects of Mercury Contaminated Fish on Consumer’s Health Essay

Mercury is an divisor that comes natur solelyy in nature, or manufactured by humans. It comes in contrary forms. According to the New Jersey Department of health, atomic number 80 whitethorn be engraft as metallic hydrargyrum, a kind of silver-gray liquid that is bad when exposed into the air and breathed in methyl quicksilver, which whitethorn be ingested by eating fish inorganic quicksilver which notify be found in over-the-counter drugs, batteries, and other pharmaceuticals, and is harmful when breathed in or swal woefuled and phenyl quicksilver in household products standardized paints, cosmetics and toiletries and is harmful when breathed in, swallowed or passed by dint of the skin (Kapsch, et. al, 1999). This paper delves into the hydrargyrum and its harmful effects on the fish population and ultimately, adverse effects on human health.Mercury in the Environment As noned above, hectogram is found naturally in the environment. Paul Kapsch, Matt Landi and Sarah S cwartz writes that natural incidents and accidents like forest fires and volcanic eruptions retch hydrargyrum into the air (1999). The innate(p) Resource Defense Council adds that power plants and reliable chemicals manufacturers, as well as other industrial facilities release mercury into the air through their daily operations. The released mercury eventually ends up in the waterways and oceans. search in these ecosystems ingest the mercury, which race, in turn ingest by eating the fish. (NRDC, 2006). Mercury is overly present in many things that one(a) has at home like fluorescent and neon lamps, mercury switches in chest freezes, thermostat probes, thermometers, barometers and other gauges, laboratory solutions and even dental amalgam (Kapsch, et. al, 1999). Paul Kapsch and his partners outlined the environmental impact of mercury. Citing ExtoxNet (1999), Kapsch, et. al, stated that while mercury enters the environment, concentrations in the air and atmosphere is genera lly very low. Mercury, however, is deposited into forest ecosystems where it accumulates in highly toxic forms. Eventually it leads up to aquatic ecosystems, which in virtually cases contri neverthelesse to human health problems. The Natural Resource Defense Council added that when mercury enters into the various water systems, bacteria take it in and convert it into a type of methyl mercury, which is easily absorbed by humans (1999). The NRDC also explained that the mercury then works it way up the food kitchen range as larger fish eat bantamer dirty fish. Mercury, however, does not break down. Instead it accumulates in fish (1999). To illustrate the point, the NRDC stated that esurient fishes like sharks and mackerel have been found to have 10,000 times higher mercury concentration (1999).How Mercury Enters the Body Mercury can enter the eubstance by breathing it in, swallowing or eating colly food, drinking contaminated water , or through the skin ( agency for Toxic Substa nces and Disease Registry, 2008). purpose of contaminated fish, however, is one of the most precarious way of getting mercury in the body since it involves methylmercury, which is easily absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract into a persons blood menses (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2008). In 2003, Dr. Jane Hightower, doctor of internal medicine at the California Pacific medical checkup Center in San Francisco, found that 89% of participating patients had high mercury levels. Most of these participants had as much as four times the proficient level of mercury in their blood stream. Participants in Dr. Hightowers landing field were chosen precisely because of their fish-heavy dietings. (NRDC, 2006). Once in the bloodstream, the mercury goes into various move of the body. Methylmercury in pregnant women gets passed on into the childs blood stream and then into the childs brain. A nursing mother may pass the methylmercury through breast milk. (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2008).wellness Risks The NRDC says that mercury exposure can be particularly hazardous for pregnant women and small children. The NRDC adds that mercury exposure can lead to cerebral palsy, mental slowing, blindness and deafness in infants and fetuses. Even with a minimal exposure, the child may be delayed in reading how to walk and talk, have low attention span and may later on develop learning disabilities (NRDC, 2006). And the numbers argon alarming. In July 2005, researchers at the federal Centers for Disease hold and Prevention found that 1 in 17 women of childbearing term have more than 5.8 micrograms of mercury per liter of blood. The CDC stated that this level may pose a risk to the developing child (NRDC, 2006). Mercury-contaminated fish is not just dangerous for children and pregnant women but it is also dangerous for adults (Mercola.Com, 2003). Mercola.Com colligate that mercury destroys the nerve tissues, the visual cortex and the cerebellum. It affects complex movements and balance. It also leads to problems in attention span and language. It also decreases concentration, deftness and verbal memory in adults. (Mercola.Com, 2003). For some adults, mercury poisoning can lead to fertility problems and blood pressure regulation problems. It also causes memory difference, vision loss, numbness in the fingers and toes, and tremors. It is suspected that mercury exposure also leads to heart disease (NRDC, 2006). The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry warned that the nervous system is prone to mercury contamination. The Agency said that in this type of mercury poisoning, some people who consumed seed grains and fish contaminated with large amounts of methyl mercury genuine severe brain and kidneys damage. The Agency explains that mercury accumulates in the kidneys, so it reparation it more. (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2008).* * * The above discussion shows that consump tion of mercury contaminated fish is very dangerous for consumers health, and is a source of contrasting diseases especially in (but not limited to) children and pregnant women. Studies have reason out that mercury poisoning have caused several conditions and diseases from simple memory loss, loss of concentration, fertility problems to something as grave and irreparable as mental retardation and kidney ailments. And studies on the relationship between mercury and other, more life-threatening diseases like heart ailments are currently underway. The growing body of evidence all points to some disease that can be traced to mercury poisoning. Consumers have to actively control their fish diets. If they are fond of eating fish, they might reign it useful to regularly check and olfactory sensation for advisories regarding mercury contamination in their area. It is also recommended that they regularly check their own mercury levels and if they found their mercury levels higher they ha ve to consult with their doctors immediately. Since mercury poisoning is more dangerous to pregnant women and small children, it might be best to veer out-of-door from eating fish altogether, and take up healthier choices such as vegetables and dairy products. Being more vigilant with regards to ones diet can reap long-term prevention that would help ensure best health. Authorities need to take much stronger steps to protect a far greater portion of people. Authorities must examine their modify safeguards designed to protect an average person from an average amount of methyl mercury in fish and take more protective and virtual(prenominal) actions against exposure to methyl mercury through food. Authorities need to forever and a day update themselves, as safe levels of mercury in the diet are constantly changing. In fact, the trend is that the required safe levels are getting higher with each new research that goes out of the pipeline. Public health authorities, as well as comm unity leaders, or any health-related organization, must come together to inform, educate and empower the public about the dangers of fish consumption, mercury contamination, and adverse health effects. Information is the best weapon against mercury contamination, without it, no amount of public policy will be fit or effective. The public needs to be aware of what mercury does to the body, the diseases associated with it, where mercury could be found, how it gets into your body, what measures are to be done. More than anything, it is high time to look at more efficient ways of disposing all types of mercury. Since mercury could be found in nature, it will be next to impossible to bear off it. What one could hope for is to reduce environmental damage from the mercury that we can control. If people could somehow take care and reduce the amount of mercury that goes into the environment as waste, people would be protecting not wholly the oceans and the fish, but also themselves. Takin g care of the environment would ensure sustainability in the future and would drastically decrease mercuryand in fact and dogmaall types of contamination. In effect, stopping or greatly reducing mercury contamination and all the ill effects associated with it takes the effort of everybody in the community, but it starts mainly with your self.ReferencesAgency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (Content source) Sidney Draggan and EmilyMonosson (Topic Editors). 2008. Public Health Statement for Mercury. In Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C. Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for intelligence and the Environment). First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth November 13, 2007 Last revised January 24, 2008 Retrieved April 2, 2008. Jeremy Laurence, (8 March, 2007) Fish Contaminated With Mercury Pose Worldwide Threat toHealth. The Independent. Retrieved on 3 April 2008. Kapsch, Paul, Landi, Matt and Schwartz Sarah. (1999). Mercury. University of Vermont. Retrieved on 3 April 2008. Learn About Mercury and Its Effects, (2006) Natural Resource Defense Council. Retrieved on23rd March 2008. Mercury-Contaminated Fish Poses Health Risks to Adults, (2003) Mercola.com. Retrieved on25th March, 2008.