Exposure to mercury can cause permanent damage to many parts of the body including the kidneys and brain.
This chemical can also pose serious risks to pregnant women as it can be quite harmful to developing fetuses.
Babies in the womb who are exposed to mercury have a greater possibility of having mental retardation, delays in learning to walk, delays in learning to talk, a lack of coordination, and various other types of developmental problems.
Adults who are exposed to mercury can experience neurological problems, changes in hearing and vision, and memory problems.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a report that found that nearly 630,000 newborns in the United States test positive for unsafe levels of mercury in their blood, which was directly linked to maternal cord blood that was contaminated.
The report asserted that mercury accumulates in the umbilical cord at a rate that is nearly two times higher than in the blood of the mother.
If a mother has a mercury blood level of about three and a half parts per billion, her newborn baby could have a mercury concentration of almost twice that, which could exceed the current the current safety limit for mercury levels.
Roughly one out of every six women who is of childbearing age has a blood mercury level that is high enough to fit into the category of being unsafe and is a possible treat to the developing fetus.
This information was all contained in the report conducted by the EPA.
High mercury levels in women of childbearing age have been directly linked to the consumption of fish, especially certain types of fish that are more prone to having higher concentrations of the substance.
Species of fish with high levels of mercury include shark, swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, and tuna.
The Food and Drug Administration has placed warnings in effect for pregnant women to monitor their levels of fish consumption, especially the ones listed above.
The EPA has also issued advisories for the general public about PCB, polychlorinated biphenyl, which has been found in farmed salmon.
Other sources of mercury for the population on the whole include emissions from industrial boilers, burning of hazardous waste, and emissions from coal fired electric power plants, according to the EPA.
Mercury can become airborne when it is emitted from sources such as these, causing it to fall to the ground where it can contaminate groundwater and soil.
At this point, a toxic organic substance known as methyl mercury is converted from the mercury by microorganisms.
When larger organisms and animals eat the smaller microorganisms, the food chain on the whole can become contaminated.
To make matters worse, the amount of methyl mercury that is produced at each stage becomes more concentrated, leading to higher levels of contamination.
Mercury can also be found in its metallic form, or as a shiny liquid.
Mercury salts can also be formed when the substance is combined with oxygen, sulfur, or chlorine.
Mercury metal is commonly used in the production of chlorine, and also in batteries, dental fillings, and thermometers.
There are also certain types of medical treatments that use components that contain metal, and ultimately have some amount of mercury.
Exposure in this fashion can lead to a slow, long term exposure to the compound, which can also have serious consequences.
If you have been exposed to the chemical of mercury in any fashion, especially if you have done so regularly such as is the case when breathing in contaminated air in the workplace, or having your skin exposed to mercury on a regular basis in the workplace, you should consider contacting a personal injury attorney to file a lawsuit.
This category of litigation falls under the category of toxic tort and can yield compensation for a variety of issues related to exposure.
A personal injury attorney who specializes in this area of the law is quite skilled with handling these types of claims and can help you to get justice for your damages.
From start to finish, personal injury attorneys will manage your case.
All medical records, and evidence will be collected, and expert testimony will be arranged if needed.
Since most personal injury attorney work on a contingency basis, you do not have to worry about funding your claim in advance.
You will pay nothing as your case winds its way through the court system.
This can be a great comfort, and you can rest assured your interests are being protected by an experienced legal professional.
Cases involving mercury exposure and contamination can be extremely serious and can lead to major life threatening complications.
This is a dangerous substance that needs to be handled properly.
If it has not been handled properly in any way, and you or your family is exposed, you should not delay in seeking legal assistance.
The sooner you contact an attorney the sooner you can start to rebuild your life.
Since these cases can be quite complex, you should not attempt to file on your own.
A personal injury attorney can help to make sure your case is viable, you have complied with all filing deadlines, you have enough evidence, and you have met all statutes of limitations.
Missing just one small detail in these cases can make or break a claim, so you should not risk a mistake at any point.
Compensation for damages can be sought in a variety of ways.
Your attorney will determine all of the parties who can be held responsible and seek judgments for past, present, and future medical bills and care, a loss of income, pain and suffering, and in some cases punitive damages.
Punitive damages are awarded in certain types of situations as a way of punishing those responsible in the hopes of preventing similar future acts.
While it is not possible for a personal injury attorney to undo the harm you or your loved ones have suffered, he or she can help you to protect your future and provide you with financial security.