Is Mercury Bad For You?
Also Known As: Hg, quicksilver
Short answer
Mercury is bad for you, as it is neurotoxic - limit your consumption in food and avoid broken thermometers.
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Mercury takes several different forms. Some are worse for you than others. Scientific American has one of the clearer breakdowns on the web: metal mercury, which is found in thermometers, can give off fumes that do damage to the central nervous system. Mercury salts can do damage to the liver. Organic mercury is the kind that's found in fish - it can accumulate in your flesh and cause problems over time.
Ingestion of mercury salts is relatively rare - unless you're in an industrial workspace, it's probably not a problem. Elemental and organic mercury exposure are more common. Inhaling mercury vapor from a broken thermometer can cause insomnia, memory damage, muscle trembling, headaches, and other problems, according to the World Health Organization.
You may experience similar problems with organic mercury. Mercury atoms attach to molecular rings called methyl groups. They then accumulate in the flesh of fish. The higher the fish is on the food chain, the more methyl mercury it might have in its flesh. Too much fish in your diet, and you too might accumulate methyl mercury in your body. Over time, it can cause damage to your nervous system in the same way as elemental mercury: you might experience tremors, headaches, or problems with memory and cognition.
Mercury exposure is particularly dangerous for children and pregnant women. You'll want to limit your intake to fish with lower levels of mercury - avoid albacore and swordfish - and eat no more than six ounces a week. Canned tuna is generally lower in mercury; you may be able to go up to 12 ounces a week.
Thimerosal is the form of organic mercury that's sometimes used in vaccines as a preservative. The amounts used are very small - a drop in the bucket compared to exposure from other sources. Although they may cause an allergic reaction, thimerosal in vaccines has not been shown to be neurotoxic. There's broad agreement in the international scientific community that there is no credible evidence that thimerosal causes autism. Moreover, the FDA is in the process of phasing thimerosal out of childhood vaccines.
Main concerns:
- Mercury salts can damage the liver
- Elemental and organic mercury can damage the central nervous system
- Mercury bioaccumulates in ocean predators
- Pregnant women and children should avoid mercury exposure
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