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    "en": "Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil. Exposure to mercury – even small amounts – may cause serious health problems and is a threat to the development of the foetus in utero and for children early in life (WHO, 2017). <br /> <p>WHO, 2017. <a href=\"https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mercury-and-health\">Mercury and Health. World Health Organization (WHO)</a>. Accessed 25 November 2019.</p>"
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      "Mercury (chemical symbol Hg, atomic number 80) exists in various forms: elemental mercury (metallic or vapour) and inorganic mercury compounds (to which people may be exposed, for example, through their occupation); and organic mercury compounds (for example, methylmercury, to which people may be exposed through their diet). These forms of mercury differ in their degree of toxicity and toxic effects (WHO, 2017). Mercury occurs naturally in the Earth’s crust (UNEP, 2018). It is released into the environment from volcanic activity, weathering of rocks and as a result of human activity. Human activity is the main cause of mercury releases, particularly coal-fired power stations, residential coal burning for heating and cooking, industrial processes, waste incinerators and as a result of mining for mercury, gold and other metals (WHO, 2017). Mercury has been used in dental amalgam for tooth fillings. Methylmercury has a history as fungicide. Organic mercury compounds are used as protective agents in biochemistry. Mercury may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, and on lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes. The World Health Organization considers mercury to be one of the top ten chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern. People are mainly exposed to mercury in the form of methylmercury, an organic compound, when they eat fish and shellfish that contain this compound (WHO, 2017). Once in the environment, elemental mercury can be transformed into methylmercury and consumed by phytoplankton in seawater and by sulphate-reducing bacteria in freshwater sediments. Methylmercury then bioaccumulates (the process by which an organism contains progressively higher concentrations of the substance than its surroundings) in fish and shellfish. Methylmercury also biomagnifies up food chains: for example, large predatory fish are more likely to have high levels of methylmercury as a result of eating many smaller fish that have acquired methylmercury through ingestion of plankton (WHO, 2017). Use of elemental mercury in some traditional therapies, religions and practices (e.g., Santería, Espiritismo) represents a risk of exposure due to the practice itself or from accidental spills. However, the extent of the problem is unknown. Use of mercurycontaining beauty creams, hair treatment and other cosmetic products may cause significant exposure (WHO, 2017). Health effects from mercury (WHO, 2007) are summarised as follows:"
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