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Geology 308 for Final > 16. Mercury in environment > Flashcards

16. Mercury in environment Flashcards

1
Q

Mercury is the main component of what mineral?

A

Cinnabar (HgS)

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2
Q

Where is mercury found in gaseous state

A

volcanoes
Base metal smelting
Gold mining also create mercury vapour

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3
Q

What are the 3 main industries of US mercury consumption

A
  1. Coal- Powered Power plants (HIGHEST)
  2. Municipal waste combustors
  3. Medical waste incinerators
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4
Q

Power plants emission in 1990, 2005 and reduction

A

59- 53-10

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5
Q

Municipal waste combustors in 1990, 2005 and reduction

A

57-2-96

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6
Q

Medical waste incinerators emission in 1990, 2005 and reduction

A

51-1-98

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7
Q

How does mercury enter enviroenment

A

coal and oil fired power plants emit mercury

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8
Q

what did EPA legislation want to do

A
  1. prevent 90% mercury entering air
  2. Reduce 88% of acid gas emissions
  3. Reduce 41% of sulfur dioxide emissions
    (NEVER MET TARGETS)
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9
Q

Elemental form of mercury is what state

A

Liquid

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10
Q

Inorganic state of mercury is what

A

Mercuric chloride
Mercurcic sulfide

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11
Q

organic state of mercury is what

A

methyl, ethyl, dimethyl mercury, WITH CARBON GROUP

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12
Q

what is mercury converted to with bacteria in sediments

A

Methylmercury

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13
Q

what does Methylmercury do in sea animals

A

Biomagnification, higher in bigger animals
100% absorbed by intestinal tract

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14
Q

what is Methylmercury

A

major source of organic mercury for humans

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15
Q

chemical formula of Methylmercury

A

[H3CHg]+

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16
Q

Methylmercury is avoided by what groups

A

Kids and pregnant women and women of childbearing age

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17
Q

Summarize mercury existence

A
  1. coal-fired power plants emitt Mercury
  2. Mercury is rained down to earth
  3. bacteria turns Mercury into methylmercury (toxic)
  4. Biomagnification
  5. Accumulates in humans while eating seafoodHe
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18
Q

what type of toxin is Mercury

A

a reproductive and potent neurotoxin

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19
Q

why is Mercury bad for pregnancy

A

can cross placenta and cause irreversible neurological damage to fetus

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20
Q

how many women in US have Mercury high enough to cause neuro damage in their children?

A

1 in 10
400,000 babies

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21
Q

What are health effects of Mercury

A
  • CNS goes bad
  • Impaired hearing, speech, vision
  • Involuntary muscle movements
  • corrodes skin and mucous membranes
  • hard to chew and swallow
  • Severe: Death
22
Q

what mineral was iraq poison grain disaster about

A

MethylMercury

23
Q

which year was iraq poison grain disaster

A

1971

24
Q

what was grain treated with

A

methylmercury fungicide

25
Q

where was grains imported from

A

america and mexico

26
Q

why didn’t anyone find grain weird

A

foregin labelling
late distrubution

27
Q

what happened to iraqi residents

A

Paresthesia (numbness of skin)
Ataxia (Lack of muscle coordination)
Vision loss

28
Q

how many people died in grain ordeal in Iraq

A

459

29
Q

where did minamata disease occur

A

japan

30
Q

what is minimata disease

A

neuro syndrome caused by mercury poisoning

31
Q

symptoms of minimata

A

ataxia
numbness
muscle weakness
vision loss
hearing and speech problems

32
Q

how did minimata disease happen

A

Methylmercury released in industrial waste water from 1932 to 1968

33
Q

what happened after release

A

accumulated in shellfish and fish
people ate and got poisoned

34
Q

how many people were victims

A

2265
1784 died

35
Q

why is methylmercury so easily accepted by body

A

because cysteine and methylmercury look like methionine so easy binding

36
Q

where else did minimata diseas occur in canada

A

ontario

37
Q

which first nations communities did it affect

A

Grassy Narrow and whitedog

38
Q

how many percent of ontario showed signs of poisoning

A

90%

39
Q

What is dental amalgam

A

Dental filling to fill cavities , used for over 150 years
silver fillings

40
Q

what is dental amalgam made of

A

liquid mercury, and silver tin and copper alloy

41
Q

how much mercury is in dental amalgam

A

50% by weight

42
Q

why is it called amalgam

A

it means elemental mercury reacts with alloys to form an amalgam

43
Q

how are dental amalgams made

A
  • drills tooth, remove decay
  • shapes tooth for placement
  • powdered alloy mixed with liquid mercury
  • its soft then after applied, turns hard
44
Q

is mercury is dental amalgam same as the ones in fish

A

No because fishes had the organic form- methylmercury

45
Q

what can dental amalgams release

A

elemental mercury can slowly release mercury vapour

46
Q

how is mercury vapour abosrbed

A

lungs

47
Q

how is methylmercury absorbed

A

digestive tract

48
Q

benefits of dental amalgams

A
  • strong, long-lasting, cheap
49
Q

what does FDA say about dental amalgams

A

safe for adults and children 6+

50
Q

are dental amalgams used in canada

A

Yes
mercury can be released with chewing so reaches body organs and reaches placenta

51
Q

how much mercury is absorbed by canadians through dental amalgams

A

nine millionths of a gram each day through food
3 millionths through dental amalgams

52
Q

are dental amalgams mercury levels of concern

A

no, doesn’t cause illness, not that level yet, over 50% population believes that dental amalgams can cause health problems

Geology 308 for Final (11 decks)

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