Mercury Links


ToxFAQs for Mercury This site on mercury, in a "frequently asked questions" format, was produced by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The mission of the ATSDR is "to prevent exposure and adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life associated with exposure to hazardous substances from waste sites, unplanned releases, and other sources of pollution present in the environment." The FAQ is one in a series of summaries about hazardous substances and their health effects. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's most frequently asked questions about mercury. Includes phone contacts for additional information and a listing of related resources.

WebElements Periodic Table: Mercury Includes extensive information on the chemical properties of mercury, from the simple to the complex. Designed for students and for curious, somewhat science-savvy citizens. Includes geology, bond enthalpies, and uses, and details properties, compounds, and interdisciplinary value.

Mercury Related EPA Websites Compiled by the U.S. Geological Survey this page is a collection of links to mercury-related sites produced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency . Categories include regional information, reports to Congress, Action Plans, lists of relevant Superfund sites, information on atmospheric deposition, pollution prevention, and the science of mercury. Very comprehensive, very valuable.

Mercury Policy Project The Mercury Policy Project was formed by the Tides Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting those affecting social change. This site is designed to promote awareness of mercury and its threats and to promote political activities aimed at reducing mercury in the environment. A highlight is the "New at MercuryPolicy.org" section, updated frequently with highly detailed news briefs complete with links to the original stories and background information. A unique blend of policy analysis and environmental activism, the site disseminates information such as new fish advisories along with a rationale for such advisories and proposed policies that would ameliorate the effects of mercury and prevent further pollution. This site is good for the informed citizen. Keep in mind its environmentalist viewpoint.

TEST Foundation (Toxic Exposure Study Trust Foundation) — Alt, Inc. ALT Inc. is a biotechnology company born out of the University of Kentucky, with one for-profit and one non-profit research division. The non-profit research division, the Toxic Exposure Study Trust Foundation researches environmental toxins and their role in human health and disease — the primary focus being mercury. A sidebar on the page is of particular interest on this portal site. It provides thousands of links to research on many different issues. The for-profit division [http://www.altcorp.com/] is dedicated to finding solutions for problems in biomedical and basic sciences, and for providing diagnostic measures for neurological disorders.

Mercury Facts — Environmental Media Services This non-profit organization for journalists is dedicated to providing up-to-date information on environmental issues. It appears to be updated frequently, with fact sheets, research, articles, press releases, a links page, and a list of expert contacts in the environmental science and policy field. Information is simple, easy-to-understand and aimed at providing maximum information in minimal space. The primary audience is busy journalists.

Mercury Free NIH Campaign — National Institutes of Health Division of Safety The Division of Safety at the National Institutes of Health has started a campaign to clear its own buildings and operations of mercury and other toxic metals. This site contains information on several different programs, a links page, and a section for kids, although it is mainly a links page to games and other kids' web sites, such as the EPA's "Superfund for Kids" site. There is a very practical question-and-answer section and a huge reference list. (Very few of these articles are linked.)

Toxics/Air Pollution — Harvard University Center for Health and the Global Environment This is a list of reviews and papers by Harvard researchers, all directly pertaining to toxic metals and health. The second article is about the use of mercury in gold mining and its effect on Amerindian health. The rest are about lead, mercury, and arsenic, and their health effects in different parts of the world. These listings do not link to full-text articles, but they are clearly cited and can be found in libraries or through inter-library loan.

Mercury in Schools — Why is Mercury Important? The University of Wisconsin’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center developed the Mercury in Schools Project to provide schools and agencies information on the disposal of mercury and on ways to reduce risk of contamination.

Lake Champlain Basin Program Web site. The Lake Champlain Basin Program web site contains information on the drive to clean up and protect a valuable ecological, industrial, and recreational resource for Vermont—Lake Champlain. The lake has seen extremely hard times in the last century, and in 1990 Congress designated it a resource of national significance through the Lake Champlain Special Designation Act. Opportunities for Action, the basin management plan, can be viewed on the site. Descriptions of all the environmental restoration work done and planned is available. Below are some pages within the site that may prove especially useful.

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