2025-01-14
Why We Need and Fear Mercury, the Liquid Metal
Mercury, which usually appears as a thick silvery fluid, is the only metal that’s liquid at room temperature. Its elemental symbol is Hg, which comes from the Greek word “hydrargyrum,” meaning “liquid silver.” In fact, it’s also called quicksilver.We use mercury in a wide range of products, from thermometers and barometers to batteries and pesticides. But mercury is extremely poisonous, and we can absorb it by touch, inhalation, or consumption. It builds up in the body with each exposure and is very difficult to remove. If you get too much in you, you can suffer from mercury poisoning, which is both unpleasant and potentially fatal.That’s why you have to be careful not to break a mercury thermometer or a compact fluorescent lightbulb. It’s also why people are concerned about mercury in industrial waste and pesticides flowing into rivers and oceans and being absorbed by fish … which are then eaten by people.