Health Effects of Mercury

We are going to continue to share about the topic of Mercury and the effects it has on people and the environment. The EPA has a great section that discusses the topic in much more detail at I would like to highlight a few here.

*For fetuses, infants, and children, the primary health effect of methylmercury is impaired neurological development.

Fluorescent lamps contain Elemental mercury (including CFL's, and HID's).
*Elemental (metallic) mercury primarily causes health effects when it is breathed as a vapor where it can be absorbed through the lungs. These exposures can occur when elemental mercury is spilled or products that contain elemental mercury break and expose mercury to the air, particularly in warm or poorly-ventilated indoor spaces. The first paragraph on this page lists the factors that determine the severity of the health effects from exposure to mercury. Symptoms include these: tremors; emotional changes (e.g., mood swings, irritability, nervousness, excessive shyness); insomnia; neuromuscular changes (such as weakness, muscle atrophy, twitching); headaches; disturbances in sensations; changes in nerve responses; performance deficits on tests of cognitive function. At higher exposures there may be kidney effects, respiratory failure and death. People concerned about their exposure to elemental mercury should consult their physician.