WHAT ARE THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF MERCURY?
According to the Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS), 1985-1986, mercury has been known to cause birth defects such as severe cerebral palsy, mental retardation, weakness, visual loss, delayed development, spontaneous abortions, and neurological effects. In general, mercury (Hg) is a central nervous system depressant and has mental effects. There is a potential for health impacts to subsistence fisherfolk from the accumulation of toxics in fish and other marine life residing in Subic Bay waters. Mercury was detected in some of the sediments of Subic Bay. Mercury bioaccumulates in fish, which means that a fish will collect all the mercury in the fish that it ate, and so on. Mercury is a toxic metal that can cause irreversible brain damage to infants. In some areas of the United States where mercury contamination has been detected, women childbearing age and children are recommended to take minimum consumption of fish.
