2. Core Case Study: Mercury’s ToxicCore Case Study: Mercury’s Toxic
EffectsEffects
All mercury compounds are toxicAll mercury compounds are toxic
1/3 in the atmosphere from natural sources1/3 in the atmosphere from natural sources
Human activities provide the rest – esp. coalHuman activities provide the rest – esp. coal
Two main human exposuresTwo main human exposures
Fish contaminated with mercuryFish contaminated with mercury
Inhalation of vaporized mercuryInhalation of vaporized mercury
Greatest risk is brain damageGreatest risk is brain damage
3. RISKS AND HAZARDSRISKS AND HAZARDS
RiskRisk – a measure of the likelihood you will– a measure of the likelihood you will
suffer harm from a hazard –suffer harm from a hazard – probabilityprobability of anof an
eventevent
ex: 1 in 250 chance you will develop lung cancerex: 1 in 250 chance you will develop lung cancer
from smoking a pack a dayfrom smoking a pack a day
Risk assessmentRisk assessment – estimating how much– estimating how much
harm a hazard can cause to human health orharm a hazard can cause to human health or
environmentenvironment
Risk managementRisk management – deciding if and how to– deciding if and how to
reduce a risk to a certain level and costreduce a risk to a certain level and cost
5. RISKS AND HAZARDSRISKS AND HAZARDS
We can suffer from:We can suffer from:
Biological hazardsBiological hazards – from more than 1,400– from more than 1,400
pathogens – cause diseasepathogens – cause disease
Chemical hazardsChemical hazards – in air, water, soil, and food– in air, water, soil, and food
Physical hazardsPhysical hazards – such as fire, earthquake,– such as fire, earthquake,
volcanic eruptionvolcanic eruption
Cultural hazardsCultural hazards – such as unsafe working– such as unsafe working
conditions, and povertyconditions, and poverty
Lifestyle choicesLifestyle choices – such as smoking, alcohol,– such as smoking, alcohol,
poor dietpoor diet
6. RISKS AND HAZARDSRISKS AND HAZARDS
We can suffer from:We can suffer from:
Biological hazardsBiological hazards – from more than 1,400– from more than 1,400
pathogens – cause diseasepathogens – cause disease
Chemical hazardsChemical hazards – in air, water, soil, and food– in air, water, soil, and food
Physical hazardsPhysical hazards – such as fire, earthquake,– such as fire, earthquake,
volcanic eruptionvolcanic eruption
Cultural hazardsCultural hazards – such as unsafe working– such as unsafe working
conditions, and povertyconditions, and poverty
Lifestyle choicesLifestyle choices – such as smoking, alcohol,– such as smoking, alcohol,
poor dietpoor diet