King’s Christian Collegiate

Christina Hong

How Much Mercury are We Really Taking In?

 

                 People are aware of mercury poisoning and diets; but what is often overlooked is the connection between the two. Mercury is known to be an extremely toxic element in its various forms. It has serious and devastating effects on the human body. It is found in the atmosphere, soil and water. Guidelines and tests are continuously being examined and conducted to prevent the effects of mercury poisoning.

            

             From 1932 to 1968, many people of Minamata, Japan, suffered and died from the Minamata disease. This disease was an extreme form of mercury poisoning. A chemical factory, Chisso Corporation polluted the Minamata Bay and Shiranui Sea with industrial waste that contained the toxic methylmercury. It bioaccumulated in the shellfish and fish, which were a staple food for the locals. The people suffered from ataxia, numbness, muscle weakness, impairment of vision and damage to speech and hearing. In the most serious of cases, death was preceded by insanity, paralysis and coma. Approximately 1,784 people died within the thirty years of pollution in Minamata, Japan.

 

 

 

                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For this reason, the constant monitoring of mercury levels in human bodies is vital. Mercury can be inhaled and consumed.

 

Purpose

 

This purpose of this project was to determine whether or not there was a risk of mercury poisoning in the diets of my sample based on:

 

A) Fish and Shellfish

             -What kinds of fish/shellfish are people mostly eating and how often?

                         

B) Water

             -What type of water are people mostly drinking?

                         

C) Products with High Fructose Corn Syrup

             - Are there risks in various chosen products?

 

Hypothesis

 

             It is predicted that people do not eat many meals that have fish as a main component because it is not made quite as convenient and preferred. The fish that would be most commonly eaten would be canned tuna for its convenience. It is also predicted that people would drink bottled water more often as opposed to tap water. People have not exceeded the safety levels of mercury in their diets. 

                

                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION