Be aware that
mercury is a persistent, toxic contaminant that works its way up the food chain.
Mercury is a known hazardous pollutant and toxin, yet typical "silver" amalgam dental fillings are about half mercury (see "Got Mercury," cover story, May/June 2002).
Though some
mercury is removed by cleaning the coal before burning, and more is recaptured in the stack, the EPA estimates that coal-fired power plants release 40 to 52 tons of mercury each year.
For most healthy adults, methyl
mercury is not a serious concern.
However, this form of
mercury is different from the methylmercury found in fish and may have a different effect on the risk of heart disease.
Gearhart says that once
mercury is released into the air it is deposited into bodies of water and ultimately ends up accumulating in fish.
Even when
mercury is accidentally released into the bloodstream by breakage of a rectal thermometer, for example, there are no reported adverse effects.
Demethylation of methylmercury into inorganic
mercury is the key step in the excretion process of methylmercury.
Intense interest in
mercury is evident from the recommendations adopted by the European Union Mercury Strategy in June 2005 (European Union 2005); also, a Global Mercury Assessment was approved by the Governing Council of the United Nations Environmental Program in early 2002.
If the main source of the halogens reacting with elemental
mercury is sea spray, Stevens says, this mechanism might increase concentrations of the metal in the water of warm coastal areas, such as Florida.
(
Mercury is not dissolved, as stated in the article.) Unfortunately, not understanding this basic fact, your reporter taints an otherwise fairly well-reasoned report.
I grant that
mercury is a hazard, and I am glad that mercury thermometers are disappearing.