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Mercury (Hg) Pollution WebQuest

Introduction

Mercury is listed among the 20 most hazardous substances known to man. It is a silver colored member of the heavy metals, and is the only metal that exists as a liquid at toom temperature. When vaporized, mercury becomes a colorless, odorless gas. Mercury is found in trace amounts in air, water, and rocks. Mercury is also used in household and commercial products and industrial processes. Mercury can commonly be found in thermometers and barometers, flourescent light bulbs, and mercury switches in kid's shoes that light up. For the past few years mercury has earned increased attention due to its toxic effects on humans. Air usually contains about 2.4 ppt of mercury, however levels near industrial sites can be nearly 1800 ppt.

The highest forms of mercury poisoning is in infants and children and affects wildlife that make fish a significan part of their diet. The forms of mercury that pose paticular problems for humans are mercuric chloride, metallic mercury vapor and methyl mercury.

Tasks

You and your team will

1. Research mercury pollution in the Great Lakes

2. Report your research by producing a webpage (or wrtten report).

Resources

The following sources are places you may wish to visit on the internet to research your topic(s):

• http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/mod02/01500613.html Reduction of Mercury Pollution - daily activities
• http://www.cnie.org/nle/nrgen-10.html Great Lakes water quality - general report
• http://water.usgs.gov/public/wid/html/gl.htmlGoverment regulations and general information.
• http://www.d.umn.edu/seagr/GGL/W.htmlSea Grant program activities - general information on Great Lakes water quality.
• http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/p2.htmlEPA - Mercury pollution Great Lakes
• http://www.epa.gov/OW/resources/9698/chap3.htmlQuality of water in Great Lakes
• http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/305b/Quality of water - Michigan Lakes
• http://www.newswire.ca/releases/July1997/08/c1112.htmlHousehold watse management
• http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/mod02/01500613.htmlMercury exposure --household waste
• http://h2o.usgs.gov/public/wid/FS_216-95.htmlU.S. geological survey of mercury contamination
• http://www.healthfuture.com/mercury.htmMercury--toxin effects
• http://www.teratology.com/mercury.htmlMercury genetic damage
• http://www.cciw.ca/glimr/gl-programs/intro.htmlCanadian Regional Programs -- Great Lakes general information
• http://atsdr1.atsdr.cdc.gov:8080/alerts/979626.htmlPatterns of metallic mercury exposure.

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The Process

• Search the internet sites for information pertaining you topic.
• Sellect your sources and write a reference list of sites.
• Print out the information that you wish to use.
• Write a 1 to 2 page webpage (or written report) summarizing your research. Include.graphics, posters, charts, etc. that gives visual information to support your written report.

Areas to Research and Report

Include the following information in your report

• How has mercury entered the Great Lakes ecosytem?
• Describe the types of businesses, manufacturers and human activities that are today contributing to mercury pollution of the Great Lakes?
• Find sources of mercury exposure from daily activities to humans.
• How much mercury present is present in the fish from the Great Lakes?

(Use the chart given below)

• What are the health risks thats mercury poses to the people living the Great Lakes?
• Describe what is being done today to controll mercury pollution to the Great Lakes.

Conclusion

Mercury is a poteantially dangerous substance present in our environment. Our activities in the Great Lakes may increase the change of exposure; however, we can take precautions to decrease the risk of harm.

Extended Activities:

• Contact government agencies to find out how is being done to reduce mercury pollution.
• Contact scienctists and discuss what they are currently doing in mercury pollution reduction

Author: Chemistry Teacher

This page was adapted from Bernie Dodge 's WebQuest_Template1.html by Tom March