|
Mercury too, like many other heavy metals, has chemical and
physical properties that make it a precious element for the
multifold uses that modern man can make of it for his
technological needs in the industrial age. Likewise, as happens in
other cases, humans are exposed to it not only at the workplace,
but also in other circumstances, given that very often the waste
from industrial processes are dispersed or “destroyed”
irrationally and without taking the necessary safety measures.
Furthermore, not only the adult, but the embryo too is prone to
the harmful effects of mercury. In both cases the central nervous
system is the most sensitive target for the element’s toxic
action, although other organs too are open to attack, such as the
kidneys, liver and lungs. Moreover, whilst in the adult the
symptoms of neurotoxicity, although serious, allow the individual
to live a somewhat impaired life, the epidemiological data for
spastic babies (caused by mercury poisoning) generally do not have
a life expectancy of more than ten years, with a very compromised
quality of life.
Given the serious harm that individuals can suffer from mercury,
it is useful to mention some of the circumstances in which the
element can attack, primarily to acquire an awareness that will
enable us to prevent risks and hence harm.
As always, in the aetiology of environmental disease, rarely is
the man in the street, and unfortunately sometimes members of the
medical profession too, sufficiently aware of the less clamorous,
but nonetheless real risks. The classic example is that of mercury
used in dentistry, the unscrupulous dentist might not worry too
much for the damage to his patient. or to the environment, but the
scientific literature shows that there are risks for the dentist
too. This problem, and that of mercury contained in food, even in
the most surreptitious forms, are dealt with in depth in this
work. Likewise household risks are also illustrated.
Furthermore the CD contains a short review of historical episodes
where exposure to mercury has caused serious and/or irreversible
harm to population groups. But these are confronted with very
recent situations and facts which testify that man, when it comes
to environmental risks is still the eternal child, to quote G.
Bizzozero, one of the fathers of the studies of environmental
disease in Italy. (See also CD-8) |
