Environmental mercury exposure and health effects
Abstract
Mercury is a heavy metal and one of the major public health concern chemicals. Mercury is spread to the environment due to natural and human activities. Industrial processes such as coal-fired thermal power plants, coal-fired activities for heating, waste incineration and metal mining, and scrap metal processing are man-made activities that cause mercury in the environment. Exposure to mercury causes significant health effects. These health effects may vary depending on the type of mercury being exposed, dose, time, route, age and developmental status of the subject. Mercury has many health negative effects, particularly kidney toxicity and neurotoxic effects. In this review health effects of environmental mercury exposure are examined.
Keywords
mercury, metilmercury, health effects, food, environmental exposure
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