1st Edition

Mercury Hazards to Living Organisms

By Ronald Eisler Copyright 2006
    336 Pages 2 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Complex and ever changing in its forms and functions, the element mercury follows a convoluted course through the environment and up the food chain. The process is complicated further by the fact that the difference between tolerable natural background levels and harmful effects in the environment is exceptionally small and still not completely understood. Written by recognized national and international authority on chemical risk assessment, Ronald Eisler, Mercury Hazards to Living Organisms explores the biological, physical, and chemical properties of mercury and its compounds. Rich in facts and information, the book provides a fundamental look at the issues.

    A synthesis of current scientific reviews, the book documents the significance of mercury concentrations in abiotic materials, plants, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, elasmobranch, fishes, and birds, as well as humans and other mammals. The author reviews historical and current uses and sources of mercury along with its physical, chemical, biological, and biochemical properties. He summarizes mercury transport and speciation processes and analytical techniques for mercury measurement. The book includes coverage of lethality to wildlife, domestic animals, and humans; administration routes and their effects; and sublethal effects such as cancers, birth defects, and chromosomal aberrations.

    MERCURY SOURCES, USES, PROPERTIES, TRANSPORT, POISONING MECHANISMS, AND TREATMENT
    Introduction
    References

    Mercury Uses and Sources
    Uses
    Sources
    Summary
    References

    Properties
    Physical
    Chemical
    Biological
    Biochemical
    Mercury Transport and Speciation
    Mercury Measurement
    Summary
    References

    Mercury Poisoning and Treatment
    Poisoning
    Mercury Treatment
    Summary
    References

    MERCURY CONCENTRATIONS IN FIELD COLLECTIONS OF ABIOTIC MATERIALS, PLANTS, AND ANIMALS
    Mercury Concentrations in Abiotic Materials
    Air
    Coal
    Sediments
    Sewage Sludge
    Snow and Ice
    Soils
    Water
    Summary
    References

    Mercury Concentrations in Plants and Animals
    Algae and Macrophytes
    Invertebrates
    Elasmobranchs and Bony Fishes
    Amphibians and Reptiles
    Birds
    Humans
    Other Mammals
    Summary
    References

    Mercury Concentrations in Abiotic Materials and Multitaxonomic Field Collections
    Asia
    Brazil
    Caribbean Region
    Europe
    India
    North America
    Polar Region
    Summary
    References

    LETHAL AND SUBLETHAL EFFECTS OF MERCURY UNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS
    Lethal Effects of Mercury
    Aquatic Organisms
    Terrestrial Invertebrates
    Reptiles
    Birds
    Mammals
    Summary
    References

    Sublethal Effects of Mercury
    Carcinogenicity, Genotoxicity, and Teratogenicity
    Bacteria and Other Microorganisms
    Terrestrial Plants
    Terrestrial Invertebrates
    Aquatic Plants
    Aquatic Animals
    Birds
    Mammals
    Summary
    References

    CASE HISTORIES
    Case Histories: Mercury Poisoning in Japan and Other Locations
    Minamata, Japan
    Niigata Prefecture, Japan
    Tokuyama Bay, Japan
    Guizhou, China
    Faroe Islands
    Republic of Seychelles
    New Zealand
    Ontario, Canada
    Summary
    References

    Case Histories: Mercury Hazards from Gold Mining
    History
    Ecotoxicological Aspects of Amalgamation
    Summary
    References

    PROPOSED MERCURY CRITERIA, CONCLUDING REMARKS
    Proposed Mercury Criteria for Protection of Natural Resources and Human Health
    Agricultural Crops
    Aquatic Life
    Birds
    Mammals
    Human Health
    Summary
    References

    Concluding Remarks
    Index

    Biography

    Ronald Eisler

    "…This book is a must for experts in chemical risk assessment, and to my knowledge the most comprehensive reference data collection in respect to the question where how much mercury can be found, and how authorities try to evaluate these scenarios regarding ecosystem and human health."
    -Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology Department, University of Bayreuth, Germany