Title: Heavy Metals: Mercury and Arsenic | Toxic-Free Future
Headings: Heavy Metals: Mercury and Arsenic
Heavy Metals: Mercury and Arsenic
Mercury and Arsenic
About Mercury and Arsenic
How am I exposed?
Mercury
Arsenic
Why should I be concerned?
What can government and industry do?
How can I reduce my exposure?

Content: Arsenic compounds are still used to make special glass, semi-conductors (gallium arsenide), some paints, dyes, metals, soaps, and drugs. Seafood can contain arsenic (although in a less-toxic form), as does drinking water in some locations. Why should I be concerned? Mercury exacts its most devastating toll on the developing brain. Children with above-average mercury exposures have learning difficulties. Recent studies also suggest that arsenic can harm the developing brain. Many other health effects of these metals are well-known. Metal
Common Health Effects
(some occur only at high exposure levels)
Mercury
blindness and deafness brain damage
digestive problems
kidney damage
lack of coordination
mental retardation
Arsenic
breathing problems
death if exposed to high levels
decreased intelligence
known human carcinogen: lung and skin cancer
nausea, diarrhea, vomiting
peripheral nervous system problems
What can government and industry do? Only relatively recently have people begun to take action to curtail the use of mercury and arsenic.