Health
Breathing small amounts of mercury vapor can harm the nervous system of unborn babies, nursing infants and children. Breathing large amounts of mercury vapor can cause irritability, tremors, or memory loss, shortness of breath, respiratory and eye irritation, chest pain, high blood pressure and kidney damage. Pregnant women, infants and babies are particularly sensitive to the harmful effects of mercury.
- Understanding Mercury Exposure Levels
This factsheet describes exposure to various forms of mercury, the possible health effects and testing for mercury in the blood or urine.
- Mercury and You
This factsheet provides general information about mercury use, mercury sources, mercury exposure and potential health effects.
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
This federal agency has numerous resources on the potential health effects of exposure to mercury. These include:
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Information on federal standards and other topics relevant to mercury in the workplace is available.
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
This federal agency provides various types of information about workplace safety and health for mercury.
