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15
CH3041
MERCURY POISONING
• Minamata Disease (1956) was found to be due to
human consumption of crabs in the bay which had 24 ppm of Hg in
them.
(Dumped waste Hg2+ catalyst from PVA synthesis)
(Dumped waste Hg2+ catalyst from PVA synthesis)
Humans bioaccumulated the Hg
to 114 ppm before dying (>70). Teratogenic
effects
(babies born with cerebal palsy, mothers fine).
(babies born with cerebal palsy, mothers fine).
• Mercury acts mainly as a
CNS poison. People first get
the shakes and then go mad
“mad as a hatter” referred to
people who made felt hats
treated with Hg(NO3)2.
CNS poison. People first get
the shakes and then go mad
“mad as a hatter” referred to
people who made felt hats
treated with Hg(NO3)2.
