What is Mercury?
CAS#: 007439-97-6
Mercury is a naturally occurring metal which has several
forms. The metallic mercury is a shiny, silver-white, odorless
liquid. If heated, it is a colorless, odorless gas.
Mercury combines with other elements, such as chlorine, sulfur,
or oxygen, to form inorganic mercury compounds or "salts," which
are usually white powders or crystals. Mercury also combines
with carbon to make organic mercury compounds. The most common
one, methylmercury, is produced mainly by microscopic organisms
in the water and soil. More mercury in the environment can increase
the amounts of methylmercury that these small organisms make.
Metallic mercury is used to produce chlorine gas and caustic
soda, and is also used in thermometers, dental fillings, and
batteries. Mercury salts are sometimes used in skin lightening
creams and as antiseptic creams and ointments.
Related Resources for Mercury
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CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substance
Prioritization of substances based on a combination of their
frequency, toxicity, and potential for human exposure at
National Priorities List (NPL) sites.
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Interaction Profile
Succintly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health
effects information for mixtures of hazardous substances.
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Medical Management Guidelines(MMGs)for Acute Chemical
Exposures
Publication intended to aid emergency department physicians
and other emergency healthcare professionals who manage
acute exposures resulting from chemical incidents.
- Minimal Risk Levels (MRL)
The MRL is an estimate of the daily human exposure to a hazardous substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk of adverse, non-cancer health effects over a specified duration of exposure. The information in this MRL serves as a screening tool to help public health professionals decide where to look more closely to evaluate possible risk of adverse health effects from human exposure.
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National Alert - Toxic Substance
Warning about a specific substance.
- National Report Human Exposure to Environmental
Chemicals
Provides an ongoing assessment of the exposure of the U.S.
population to environmental chemicals using biomonitoring.
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Public Health Statement
Summary about a hazardous substance taken from Chapter One
of its respective ATSDR Toxicological Profile.
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ToxFAQ
Fact sheet that answers the most frequently asked questions
about a contaminant and its health effects.
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ToxFAQ: Chemical Agent Briefing Sheets(CABS)
Briefing sheets that provide current and relevant scientific
information on specific high profile chemicals.
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Toxicological Profile
Succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health
effects information for a hazardous substance.