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A very important factor in the impacts of mercury to the environment is its ability to build up in the organisms and up along the food chain.

Methylmercury is a central nervous system toxin, and the kidneys are the organs most vulnerable to damage from inorganic mercury. Significant effects on reproduction are also attributed to mercury, and methylmercury poses a particular risk to the developing fetus since it readily crosses the placental barrier and can damage the developing nervous system.

The term biomagnification refers to the progressive buildup of some heavy metals by successive trophic levels

sources of methylmercury.

Methylmercury is formed from inorganic mercury by the action of anaerobic organisms that live in aquatic systems including lakes, rivers, wetlands, sediments, soils and the open ocean.

Methylmercury [CH3Hg] is the most toxic form. It affects the immune system, alters genetic and enzyme systems, and damages the nervous system,

reductions in loon chick production has been found in lakes where mercury concentrations in eggs exceed concentrations that are toxic in laboratory studies.

Studies have shown that protective enzymes are less effective following exposure to mercury.

bioaccumulation

Methylmercury biomagnifies through the food chain as predators eat other organisms and absorb the contaminants that their food sources contained.As a result, top predators acquire greater body burdens of mercury than the fish they consume

Methylmercury is a shorthand for "monomethylmercury"

It is composed of a methyl group (CH3-) bonded to a mercury ion;

its Chemical Formula is

CH3Hg+ (sometimes written as MeHg+)

Use less energy so power plants won't have to produce as much mercury into the air.

Get mercury out of consumer product.

NRDC has already helped eliminate the mercury fever thermometer, and mercury is being phased out of many batteries.

Mercury Water Pollution

Instead use solar, wind, or geothermal energy

What Can We Do?

NRDC and other groups are fighting to clean up power plant pollution and pushing for clean, green energy.

References

http://www.nrdc.org/living/chemicalindex/mercury.asp

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/freshwater/?gclid=CMOqrJSA07oCFY9FMgodnWgALg

http://www.usgs.gov/themes/factsheet/146-00/

http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Pollutants/Mercury-and-Air-Toxics.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(element)#Toxicity_and_safety

The Chemistry of It

Effects

What Is It?

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