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: 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. Local advocacy and legislation have made a difference in reducing continued pollution with these metals. Arsenic – Arsenic-treated wood was extremely widely used before manufacturers agreed to phase it out. Mercury – A number of states, including Washington and Oregon, have passed legislation to address mercury use in products such as thermometers and thermostats. The Washington State Department of Ecology credits the legislation and its action plan with reducing mercury emissions by 14,000 pounds between 2003 and 2008. Major sources such as coal burning continue.