case study 4: mercury

Question 1

historical uses vs current uses

Answer 1

his - thermometers, barometers, skin cream, laxatives
curr - industrial and technological applications, thermometers, preservation in vaccines

Question 2

organic vs. inorganic mercury affects

Answer 2

org - affects central nervous system, kindey’s and body systems
inorg - also affects fetal devel, liver and reproductive system

Question 3

thimerosal

Answer 3

• additive to vaccines that acts as preservation
• contains mercury
• largely eliminated from US children vaccines
• environmental-genetic interactions may play a role

Question 4

preventing and cleaning up containations

Answer 4

• EPA actions (regulations on power plant/waste emissions, global collab on mining, continued monitoring)
• discontinued coal burning
• replacing mercury in any process