Mercury is found in rocks, soil, air, and living organisms. Properties of mercury include high conductivity and liquidity at room temperature. While being very useful to humans, mercury can also be harmful to the environment as well as human health. Bacteria and various other organisms in lakes and rivers can convert mercury into methylmercury, which fish may acquire from the water and food they eat. Methylmercury will build up in the fish tissue and may then be carried up the food chain to humans.
Mercury contamination can affect the human central nervous system, kidneys and liver.
Fetuses and children are the most sensitive to mercury toxicity. If you work with mercury containing items, the Small Business Assistance Program suggests reducing the use of these products and recycling old mercury containing items. The US EPA extended the days within which a company discovers a violation and reports it to the US EPA from 10 to 21 days. T program is a process of identifying best practices and executing brief demonstrations and extended pilot trials of pollution prevention practices and technologies in actual metal finishing facilities. Results of this effort will be used to promote the adoption of the technologies and practices at other metal finishers in the region.