Public Health and Environment

Children's Environmental Health - Mercury Exposure

The primary source of mercury exposure to humans in the US is the organic form called methylmercury, which is ingested by eating fish and shellfish.  The Environmental Protection Agency has issued an advisory for women who are pregnant or may become pregnant as well as children.  Elevated mercury levels in the body have been shown to damage the nervous system, kidneys and liver.  Fetuses and children are at increased risk of harm from exposure to mercury because they have an immature metabolism and are unable to detoxify their bodies as quickly as adults.  Many toxins are stored in body fat, and children have a higher body fat percentage than adults.

Another type of mercury exposure can result from a spill of elemental (liquid) mercury from items such as mercury thermometers and thermostats.  Fluorescent light bulbs also contain a small amount of mercury.  Care should be taken with these items, and information where to recycle these items is available below.

Washington County Resources

• Hazardous Waste At Home

Other Resources

• United States Environmental Protection Agency
  • Human Exposure
  • What You Need to Know about Mercury in Fish and Shellfish

• March of Dimes
  • What are the risks of lead exposure during pregnancy?

• Got Mercury?
  • Mercury Exposure Calculator

• Minnesota Department of Health
  • Exposure to Elemental Mercury
  • Fish Consumption Advice

• Environmental Health Perspectives
  • Public Health and Economic Consequences of Methyl Mercury Toxicity to the Developing Brain

Action Steps

• Educate yourself about the sources of lead exposure.
• Do not exceed recommended intake levels of fish/shellfish.
• Replace your mercury thermometers and thermostats with digital ones.
• When fluorescent light bulbs burn out, bring them to appropriate recycling centers.
• Follow all guidelines for mercury clean-up and disposal!