Consider
this:
Only 2.5% of Earth's water is fresh water. While
we may regard water as a limitless supply, mercury
from discarded fluorescent lamps quickly spoils
these most precious resources. Mercury found in
landfills contributes, over time, to the contamination
of the water and food supply. This pollution finds
its way into streams, rivers, and lakes, eventually
settling into the animals living in our waterways.
Mercury is a virulent poison to humans, delivering
a toxic affect on the central nervous system when
absorbed.
Government
data reports that one flourescent lamp
contains between 15 mg and 40mg/ kg
of mercury, with a national average
of 24mg/ kg.
This
is the approximate size of 24mg/
kg of mercury. Just one drop can
contaminate fish, which, in turn,
can jeopardize the health of humans.
The
most common cause of mercury poisoning is the ingestion
of contaminated fish. Children of women who consume
large amounts of fish during pregnancy pose the
highest risk of developing irreversible damage to
the nervous system. The problem is so pervasive
that the Environmental Protection Agency advises
pregnant women to avoid eating all lake and stream-based
fish during the course of pregnancy.
The red
bar at the bottom represents the amount
of the earth’s water that is considered
fresh.
