What is Mercury? Mercury is a metal that has been used in
products such as light bulbs, batteries, paint and thermometers.
Although quite useful, mercury is also poisonous and can
contaminate the environment if it is not disposed of There are
several forms of mercury: - Elemental (metallic) mercury: shiny,
silver, odorless liquid used in thermometers. It is absorbed by
the body through vapors. - Organic mercury: mercury combined
with carbon. Methyl mercury is a common form of organic mercury.
These forms of mercury are soluble in lipids and cross the blood
brain barrier and placenta easily. Organic mercury is absorbed
through the digestive tract and also through - Inorganic
mercury: mercury combined with non-carbon substances. Mercury
salts are one kind of inorganic mercury. mercury is usually a
white powder or crystals. This form of mercury has been used in
medicines. Mercuric nitrate was used by the felt-hat industry in
the process of curing felt. People in the felt-hat industry
sometimes showed signs of me