Oosthuizen, MAJohn, JSomerset, Vernon2010-09-022010-09-022010-09-01Oosthuizen, MA, John, J and Somerset, V. 2010. Evidence of mercury exposure in a particular low-income community in South Africa. CSIR 3rd Biennial Conference 2010. Science Real and Relevant. CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa, 30 August – 01 September 2010, pp 1http://hdl.handle.net/10204/4307CSIR 3rd Biennial Conference 2010. Science Real and Relevant. CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa, 30 August – 01 September 2010South Africa relies mainly on coal for its energy needs. In addition, the country is one of the main producers of gold. Both coal combustion and gold mining are sources of mercury pollution, contributing to South Africa being one of the leading countries in terms of mercury emissions to the environment. The human nervous system is very sensitive to mercury. When metallic mercury vapour in the air is inhaled, it may cross the blood-brain barrier and cause permanent brain damage (Figure 1). Bacteria in water and soil convert metallic mercury into methylmercury, which accumulates in the food chain, causing larger and older fish to have the highest concentrations. When people drink water or eat fish containing methylmercury, they may suffer permanent damage to the nervous system. The half-life of mercury in the human body is about two months.enMercuryMercury exposureLow-income communitiesEnergyCoalCoal combustionMercury pollutionMercury emissionsMetallic mercuryMethylmercuryCSIR Conference 2010Conference PresentationOosthuizen, M., John, J., & Somerset, V. (2010). Evidence of mercury exposure in a particular low-income community in South Africa. CSIR. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/4307Oosthuizen, MA, J John, and Vernon Somerset. "Evidence of mercury exposure in a particular low-income community in South Africa." (2010): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/4307Oosthuizen M, John J, Somerset V, Evidence of mercury exposure in a particular low-income community in South Africa; CSIR; 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/4307 .TY - Conference Presentation AU - Oosthuizen, MA AU - John, J AU - Somerset, Vernon AB - South Africa relies mainly on coal for its energy needs. In addition, the country is one of the main producers of gold. Both coal combustion and gold mining are sources of mercury pollution, contributing to South Africa being one of the leading countries in terms of mercury emissions to the environment. The human nervous system is very sensitive to mercury. When metallic mercury vapour in the air is inhaled, it may cross the blood-brain barrier and cause permanent brain damage (Figure 1). Bacteria in water and soil convert metallic mercury into methylmercury, which accumulates in the food chain, causing larger and older fish to have the highest concentrations. When people drink water or eat fish containing methylmercury, they may suffer permanent damage to the nervous system. The half-life of mercury in the human body is about two months. DA - 2010-09-01 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Mercury KW - Mercury exposure KW - Low-income communities KW - Energy KW - Coal KW - Coal combustion KW - Mercury pollution KW - Mercury emissions KW - Metallic mercury KW - Methylmercury KW - CSIR Conference 2010 LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2010 T1 - Evidence of mercury exposure in a particular low-income community in South Africa TI - Evidence of mercury exposure in a particular low-income community in South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/4307 ER -