Mercury: Environmental Concerns and Economic Value

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

So often, I look at the beautiful scenes and I grateful to God for wonderful and excellent work. The world is full of unlimited beautiful sceneries while the underground is full of valuable resources. While we live, it is our priority to protect the environment and its core components. It is extremely unacceptable to destroy our ecosystem, especially, considering the fact that we need it for a safe future.

My great concern about some environmental valuables makes me a “strong believer” that our ecosystem requires maximum protection. In this paper, I seek to look at mercury, which is one of the precious elements on earth. The paper is going to examine the source, location, mining methods, economic value and the environmental concerns on mercury. The paper is brief, concise, and direct to the main objectives.

Discussion

Most people may find it very difficult to give a concise explanation if you ask them about the condition of mercury at a room temperature. Moreover, the simple question is what is mercury? I know this question can raise a hot debate in the public domain with both negative and positive responds. Mercury is a versatile material perfect in existence of several years. This element has a dual existence character (Wolke 56).

At a room temperature, mercury is in a liquid condition, while under other conditions the element exists as a metal. Liquid-metal also refers to mercury due to its twin characteristics. Mercury has extremely high density, and surface tension. Mercury is a good conductor of electricity that expands and contracts in a uniform manner when responding to the changes exerted by temperature and pressure.

Sources of mercury

The liquid-metal element occurs naturally and found in the volcanoes and the weathering of rocks. However, not all mercury occurs naturally from the mentioned place, as sometimes it occurs as the air pollution born by coal-burning power plants. Mercury that dominates the world market is mainly obtained from mines in China and Spain.

The environmental concerns tied to production of mercury

Mercury is widely used in the gold mining. Nonetheless, the gold miners are required to be certain on how easily they can contaminate the environment, including persons within the surrounding. Mercury occurs naturally, but about a third of the world’s atmosphere mercury comes from a natural process such as volcanic activities.

Unfortunately, human beings form the rest (Wolke 87). Activities like coal burning and use of gas in vehicles pollutes the environment. However, mercury production faces several restrictions. Mercury has been limited to use of obsolete technology and require the use of the high technology to reduce the release of mercury. Some countries have imposed sanctions on the production of this element in pursuit to eliminate the excess emission of mercury in environment.

The cost relative to other similar materials

Mercury though destructive, its economic value is relatively high. Mercury has various important uses which makes it expensive (Wolke 47). Some of its important uses include its function in a gold-mining process. Market value of mercury keeps upward movement compared to its immediate competitor. However, the liquid-metal presents more destruction of the environment, the element is still positioning a strong market appeal to the customers.

The environmental concerns on recycling or reuse of mercury

Several environmental steps are strategically important to check on recycle of mercury. Substantial amount of recycled mercury can find its way even after a long period. Environmentalists are in the process of seeking the best ways of managing its disposal. Mercury disposal needs special knowledge as it is very dangerous to ecosystem, including human beings that are the subject directly or indirectly (Wolke 52).

The environmental concerns for using mercury

From the beginning, I am extremely concerned with the environmental safety of our ecosystem. Although mercury poses a number of merits, it has a great impact if perfectly controlled.

From doctor’s desk, mercury exposure leads to unhealthy problems. Scientists through various works with supporting evidence show that close contact with mercury causes impairment of the nervous system plus the kidney. Children are at a high risk with mercury, which affects the child ability to learn and process the information. Recent study shows that mercury can result into serious illness while in some cases it kills.

According to the research provided by the Minnesota Health Department, infants and children are at a very high risk when they inhale or feed on mercury (Wolke 52). This has heightened the debate with environmentalist demonstrating much commitment trying to deter the pollution, various rules and regulations have been set in order to ensure that mercury pollution is in control.

Though much has been through implementation of environmental law, mercury pollution still increases. The developed countries are well aware of the adverse effect of mercury on health and environment and have adopted measures to reduce the uses of the substance. Nonetheless, the liquid- metal has substantial merits.

Conclusion

Although the economic value of some products is extremely appealing and attracting to the manufacturers, it is much appropriate if they consider the environmental impacts caused by them. Environment protection is essential for a bright future. The governments in conjunction with environmental management teams have to continue with their efforts to ensure that the surrounding is safe.

Works Cited

Wolke, Robert. Impact, Science on Society. Michigan: Saunders, 1975. Print.

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