User:MIFbear/sandbox

--MIFbear (talk) 23:19, 6 May 2014 (UTC)Bold text

Mercury in Fish

While various studies have shown high concentrations of mercury accumulated in fish, medical cases often go unreported and pose a difficulty in correlating mercury in fish with human poisoning. Environmental issues cover a broad range of areas, however, medical cases that are associated with toxins released into the environment by factories and or construction areas, cause public health issues that not only affect the environment, but also the well being of humans. Toxins to the human body, in a particular amount or dose may not cause any symptoms over time. While there are limits to how much of anything the body can have, mercury is a particular toxin that produces immediate physical symptoms when the body has been accumulating it over a period of time.

The Environmental Protection Agency measures the amount of mercury concentrated in human blood that does not pose fatal health outcomes. The agency is in charge of enforcing regulations and policies that cover a range of environmental topics Analysis of blood mercury concentrations in childbearing women has proved that exposure to methyl mercury (MeHg) occurs primarily through the consumption of fish

Medical Cases and Exposure to Mercury:

The EPA serves as an advisory to set the levels of mercurythat are non fatal in humans. Exposure to high levels of methylmercury include disturbed vision, hearing and speech, lack of coordination and muscle weakness. Medical studies have examined the correlation of fish consumption and health issues. U.S studies have presented evidence of fish consumption and its effect on child development. Longitudinal studies follow that human activities is what releases and accumulates mercury in marine life The UK followed a group of children whose mothers ate about 340 grams of fish per day or more. From the day they were born up until they were 42 months old, the study concluded that “children whose mothers ate 340 grams or more had a higher risk and tendency to have lower IQ levels, develop a slowness in motor skills and have a more difficult time developing social skills; As opposed to mothers who did not eat fish or ate very little of it. Addressing the issues of fish consumption forces health officials to recognize the sources of mercury in the human body. Specific Native American tribes are vulnerable to a high exposure of mercury. Studies have determined that these native peoples in the U.S suffer more from mercury poisoning and illness than any other cohort group in the U.S. This is due to the fact that fish is a main source of protein. Exposure risk was assessed through a medical study, thus raising judicial issues of whether the public health of these groups is a priority in the US.

Work and Exposure

Most cases that happen are due to work exposure or medicinal poisoning. Environmental justice advocates can relate these mercury cases to the unregulated amount of mercury that enters the environment. Workers had been exposed to mercury through the manufacture of fluorescent tubes, chloralkali, or acetaldehyde. Mercury-exposed workers had an mean duration of exposure of 15.3. Anthropogenic sources and places where mercury is released or used as a solid or vapor puts these has caused fatigue, dizziness, hyperhidrosis, chest congestion and loss of motor skills. When taken to the hospital, the neurotoxicity levels had already exceeded the maximum amounts. Over the counter medicines have been shown to have traces of mercurous choloride. Medical research reported that the children who received doses of these medicines experienced physical symptoms such as “drooling, irregular arm movements, and impaired gaits. Exposures to this result in severe physical impairments unregulated chemicals that are put in products. The intake of laxatives that contained about 120 mg of mercurous chloride have also been cases of mercury's toxicity.Two women who abused it over a long period of time took the pills. Both died or inorganic mercury poisoning. Both of these raise questions about regulation over products and or medicine that go unregulated Unknown sources of mercury appear to be in the uncommon places, or least expected. Common mercury poisoning cases come from the consumption of fish.