An eWaste Generated Toxin - Mercury

Mercury exists in various forms like inorganic, organic and elemental. People may be exposed to Mercury through their occupation and also through their diet. These forms of mercury vary in their amount of toxicity and in their effects on the nervous, immune and digestive systems, and on skin, eyes, lungs and kidneys.

Mercury is released into the environment from volcanic eruption/activity, weathering of rocks and also as a result of human activity. Mercury occurs naturally in the earth's crust. Human doings is one of the main causes of mercury releases, mainly coal-fired power stations, industrial processes, waste incinerators, residential coal burning for heating and cooking and as a result of mining for mercury, gold and other metals. Once in the environment, bacteria transform the mercury in Methylmercury. Methylmercury then bioaccumulates in fish and shellfish.

All humans are exposed to certain level of mercury. Most people are exposed to low levels of mercury. Though, some people are exposed to high levels of mercury, including severe exposure. Exposure to mercury mainly occurs through consumption of fish and shellfish contaminated with methylmercury and through worker inhalation of elemental mercury vapours during industrial processes. Cooking does not eliminate mercury.

Effects of Mercury
Mostly, two groups are more sensitive to the effects of mercury. Foetuses are most vulnerable to developmental effects due to mercury. Methylmercury exposure in the womb can result from a mother's consumption of fish and shellfish. It can harmfully affect a baby's growing brain and nervous system. The second group is people who are often exposed to high levels of mercury. Children showed cognitive impairment caused by the consumption of fish containing mercury.

The inorganic salts of mercury are corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested. Elemental and methylmercury are toxic to the central and peripheral nervous systems. The inhalation of mercury vapour can produce harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys, and may be fatal. Neurological and behavioural disorders may be observed after inhalation, ingestion or dermal exposure of different mercury compounds.

How to reduce human exposure from mercury sources
There are numerous ways to prevent adverse health effects, including promoting clean energy, stopping the use of mercury in gold mining, eliminating the mining of mercury and phasing out non-essential mercury-containing products.

-        Coal contains mercury and other hazardous air pollutants that are emitted when the coal is burned. Burning coal for power and heat a major source of mercury.

-        Mercury is an element that cannot be destroyed; therefore, mercury already in use can be recycled for other essential uses, with no further need for mercury mining.

-        Mercury is contained in many products, including:

1.     Batteries

2.     Measuring devices, such as thermometers and barometers

3.     Electric switches and relays in equipment

4.     Lamps (including some types of light bulbs)

5.     Dental amalgam (for dental fillings)

6.     Skin-lightening products and other cosmetics

7.     Pharmaceuticals. 

A range of actions are being taken to reduce mercury levels in products, or to phase out mercury-containing products. In health care, dental amalgam is used in almost all countries.

Recycling Electronic Waste to prevent release of Mercury in the environment
One of the sources of Mercury is electronic waste. Electronics products like Batteries, Electrical switches and relays in equipment, lamps (including some types of light bulbs) etc. contain mercury. When these equipments are not disposed of properly, they end-up in landfills and causes Mercury and other harmful substances to be leaked into the environment.

Properly and responsibly recycling electronic waste can help reduce the release of toxins like Mercury in the environment.