How Does Mercury Pollution Affect You?

Mercury is a long lasting, bioaccumulative toxin. Exposure at any level can have irreparable damage on the brain, heart, kidneys, liver and immune system of people of all ages.

What does this mean? Virtually any living organism that consumes mercury will store the element in their body, and it will stay there indefinitely. Thus, when mercury enters our lakes and oceans, bacteria ingest the toxin and convert it to methyl mercury. The bacteria are consumed by living organisms which are themselves consumed by fish, and in this way mercury moves up the food chain. People are exposed to mercury by eating mercury-contaminated fish. Fish advisory lists are posted in grocery stores all across the state.

Mercury can also come from our dentist's office! If you have ever had a cavity filled, chances are your tooth was filled with dental mercury. Dental mercury is an amalgam made up of 50% mercury that is bound to silver, tin, copper and traces of zinc. Similar to the way that sodium and chlorine - both hazardous in their pure state - combine to form ordinary table salt, the mercury in dental amalgam combines with other metals to form a stable dental filling. But, the mercury vapor from the amalgams transfers to human tissues, accumulates with time, and presents a potential health threat. The mercury escapes continuously during the entire life of the filling primarily from chewing, brushing, and the intake of hot fluids.

• Go Here for More Facts on Mercury
• Check out California's Fish Advisory
• Learn How to Live a Mercury-Safe Lifestyle
• CAW Efforts to Reduce Mercury Pollution

See What Our Partners and Allies are doing to Reduce Mercury Pollution:

• The Sea Turtle Restoration Project fights to protect endangered sea turtle populations in ways that meet the ecological needs of the sea turtles and the oceans and the needs of the local communities who share the beaches and waters with these gentle, beautiful creatures.