Mercury Pollution: Dangers and Treatment

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic heavy metal with interesting properties such as silvery-white liquid at room temperatures, volatile, a poor conductor of heat, but a fair conductor of electricity. Mercury contamination in soil, water, and the air are associated with potential toxicity to humans and ecosystems. The nervous system is very sensitive to all forms of mercury. Exposure to high levels of any type of mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidneys, and developing fetus. Mercury can build up in the bodies of fish in the form of methyl mercury(organic mercury) which is very poisoning and largely linked to eating seafood, mainly fish. The mechanism of the mercury poisoning treatment involves adsorption, oxidation, and reduction processes. The major aim of these technologies is to separate mercury from the contaminated media or transform toxic mercury species into less toxic ones.