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Title: Should we Take Mercury Warnings Seriously in
Oregon? Analysis of mercury Contamination in the United States from the
Minamata Disaster Author:
Sascha Larsen-Helbing Abstract: In this paper the recent increase in awareness in the United States by media on mercury contamination and toxicity is discussed. The Minamata disaster was a tragic event that intrigued further investigation into the health affects of short term exposure to high concentrations of methylmercury as well as small concentrations of methylmercury over a longer period of time. A look at mercury in the hydrologic cycle, biomythylation, and health affects are researched. These physical characteristics are tied together with the societal tension that was created in Minamata. Local physical and social data from the United States is analyzed to see if the Environmental Protection Agency is under, over, or perfectly creating awareness and warnings to the public on mercury toxicity. Key
References: Driskill, C.T., Han, Y., Chen C.Y., Evers,
D.E., Lambert, K.F., Holsen T.M., Kamman, N.C., & Munson, R.K. (2007).
Mercury Contamination in Forest and Freshwater Ecosystems in the Northeastern
United States. BioScience, 57, 17-28. Ekino, S., Susa, M., Ninomiya, T., Imamura,
K., & Kitamura T. (2007). Minamata disease revisited: An update on the
acute and chronic manifestations of methyl mercury poisoning. Journal of
the Neurological Sciences, 262, 131-144. Masazsumi, Yoshi. (1994).
Mayor’s Oration. Retrieved April 29, 2005 from http://www.minamatacity.jp/eng/mayor's_oration.htm. slarsenh@willamette.edu Return to Water
Resources Projects page. |
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Date: May
2008
Student: *@willamette.edu
ENVR 327: Water Resources
Instructor: Dr. Karen Arabas
http://www.willamette.edu/~karabas/courses/envr327w