Mercury - What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!

When I think of Mercury it always used to remind me of the great Freddie, or maybe that planet or that silver stuff in thermometers but nowadays it conjures up thoughts of all things bad!

You see Mercury is a toxin and certain products like thermometers are now using pigmented alcohol instead or electronic thermometers are being used to replace the old ones, the health profession knows how harmful this silver stuff can be. The United States Clean Air Act, passed in 1990, put mercury on a list of toxic pollutants that need to be controlled to the greatest possible extent.

One of the worst industrial disasters in history was caused by the dumping of mercury compounds into Minamata Bay, Japan. The Chisso Corporation, a fertilizer and later petrochemical company, was found responsible for polluting the bay from 1932–1968. It is estimated that over 3,000 people suffered various deformities, severe mercury poisoning symptoms or death from what became known as Minamata disease.

Mercury and most of its compounds are extremely toxic and are generally handled with care; in cases of spills involving mercury (such as from certain thermometers or fluorescent light bulbs) specific cleaning procedures are used to avoid toxic exposure. It can be inhaled and absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes, so containers of mercury are securely sealed to avoid spills and evaporation.

Case control studies have shown effects such as tremors, impaired cognitive skills, and sleep disturbance in workers with chronic exposure to mercury vapour even at low concentrations in the range 0.7–42 μg/m3.

A study has shown that acute exposure (4–8 hours) to calculated elemental mercury levels of 1.1 to 44 mg/m3 resulted in chest pain, dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, impairment of pulmonary function, and evidence of interstitial pneumonitis.

Acute exposure to mercury vapor has been shown to result in profound central nervous system effects, including psychotic reactions characterized by delirium, hallucinations, and suicidal tendency. Occupational exposure has resulted in broad-ranging functional disturbance, including erethism, irritability, excitability, excessive shyness, and insomnia. With continuing exposure, a fine tremor develops and may escalate to violent muscular spasms. Tremor initially involves the hands and later spreads to the eyelids, lips, and tongue. Long-term, low-level exposure has been associated with more subtle symptoms of erethism, including fatigue, irritability, loss of memory, vivid dreams, and depression.

With all these facts and many more at our disposable, it makes sense NOT to use products containing mercury. With so many mercury riddled fluro tubes in offices, car parks, shopping centres etc the risk is always there, so it makes sense to eliminate the risk. TV ads abound with products claiming no mercury anymore, like the Apple Mac PC. By replacing the old fluro tubes with LED tubes then you are on your way to cleaner, safer lighting experience for now and for many years to come. For more information on the aToMik Green LED tube, check the product pages at www.atomikgreen.com.au