ATSDR announced today its updated Toxicological Profile for Mercury. This
document replaces an earlier profile that was released in 1994.
Mercury occurs in the environment in several forms: elemental, inorganic and organic
mercury. Methylmercury is the most common form of organic mercury. People can be exposed
to methylmercury by eating fish or shellfish that come from mercury-contaminated waters.
Among the information included in the Toxicological Profile is a minimal risk level, or
MRL, of 0.3 micrograms per kilograms of body weight per day (ug/kg/d) for ingestion of
methylmercury.
MRLs are health guidance values established by ATSDR and are intended for use by health
assessors as screening tools when determining whether further evaluation of potential
human exposure at hazardous waste sites is warranted. They are not intended for use in
determining clean-up levels or for other regulatory purposes.
The safe exposure indicated by this MRL is close to the value indicated in the 1994
profile, which included an MRL of 0.1 ug/kg/day. The new MRL does not result in any change
in the advice provided by the Food and Drug Administration regarding consumption of
commercial fish. FDA continues to recommend that fish and shellfish are excellent foods,
and eating fish has many health benefits.
The greatest exposure of humans to methylmercury is for those subsistence fishers,
recreational fishers and others who regularly eat non-commercial fish from
mercury-polluted waters. These people should pay careful attention to state advisories
that warn people against eating fish caught in mercury polluted waters. MRLs are not
designed or intended for use in developing fish advisories. Therefore ATSDR also advises
state and other agencies not to change existing fish advisories based on the updated
profiles.
Women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant in particular should be aware of
these advisories and limit their intake of shark and swordfish (species relatively high in
methylmercury) to no more than one meal per month. For further information on dietary
guidance, reporters should contact FDA's press office.
Additionally, the mercury toxicological profile contains expanded information about
hazardous uses of elemental mercury, including folk medicinal and ethnic religious uses.
Also included is information on clean up of elemental mercury spills, such as would occur
when an oral thermometer breaks; and recent information on dental amalgam.
Congress has charged ATSDR to produce regularly updated toxicological profiles for
hazardous substances, such as mercury, found at National Priorities List (NPL) sites, the
highest priority Superfund waste sites. Each toxicological profile examines, summarizes
and interprets available toxicological information and epidemiological evaluations on a
given hazardous substance. ATSDR staff, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
staff and other government agencies review each profile prior to that document's
publication. In addition, each profile is peer-reviewed by a non-government panel and then
made available to the public for review and comment. However, final responsibility for the
content and views expressed in the toxicological profile resides with ATSDR.
Background:
- Mercury occurs naturally in the environment. In its elemental form, mercury is a shiny,
silver-white metal that liquefies at room temperature. Mercury metal, the familiar liquid
used in thermometers, electrical switches and silver-colored dental fillings, will
evaporate to some extent at room temperature to form mercury vapor, a colorless, odorless
gas.
- Exposure to excessive levels of elemental (metallic), inorganic or organic mercury can
permanently damage the brain and kidneys of people of all ages and interfere with fetal
development.
- The toxicological profile contains information about in-depth studies of human
populations exposed to low levels of methylmercury through seafood consumption. Exposure
to methylmercury is more dangerous for developing fetuses and children under four years of
age than for adults because it may interfere with normal brain development, causing
additional developmental problems and nervous system disorders.
- The Clinton administration is working together across several agencies to protect public
health from exposure to harmful levels of mercury.
Copies of the Toxicological Profile for Mercury and other toxicological profiles
produced by ATSDR, are available from:
National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 1-800-553-6847
Release Date: Thursday, May 21, 2020
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) invites the public to hear from the scientists who conducted public health activities to understand the impact of exposure to contaminated drinking water at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. A Community Assistance Panel (CAP) meeting will be held virtually on May 27, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.
Release Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2020
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) invites the public to hear from the scientists who conducted public health activities to understand the impact of exposure to contaminated drinking water at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. A Community Assistance Panel (CAP) business meeting will take place on February 13, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. in Atlanta, Georgia.
Release Date: Monday, December 17, 2018
(Atlanta)-- The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) invites the public to hear from the scientists who conducted public health activities to understand the impact of exposure to contaminated drinking water at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. A Community Assistance Panel (CAP) business meeting, which is open to the public, will take place on January 30, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. in Atlanta, Georgia.
Release Date: Wednesday, July 18, 2018
(Atlanta)-- The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) invites the public to hear from the scientists who conducted public health activities to understand the impact of exposure to contaminated drinking water at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. A Community Assistance Panel (CAP) business meeting, which is open to the public, will take place on August 8, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. in Atlanta, Georgia.
Release Date: Wednesday, January 10, 2018
(Atlanta) - The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) invites the public to hear updates of ongoing public health activities from the scientists who conducted public health studies to understand the impact of exposure to contaminated drinking water at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
Release Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2010
In a groundbreaking step to learn more about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has launched the National ALS Registry.
Release Date: Monday, March 09, 2009
The updated edition of ToxProfilesTM, a two-CD ROM set featuring updated information on more than 180 chemicals and hazardous substances as well as an improved search engine, is now available from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
Release Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has released its updated ToxProfilesTM 2007 two-CD ROM set featuring information on more than 180 hazardous substances as well as an improved search engine. ToxProfilesTM 2007 is a useful resource for health professionals, researchers, students, media and others interested in the health effects from exposure to hazardous substances.
Release Date: Tuesday, March 22, 2005
A Toxicology Curriculum for Communities Training Manual, a guide that offers educational training tactics to communities affected by hazardous exposures, was released by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
Release Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Community and Tribal Subcommittee of the Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR): Teleconference
Release Date: Friday, October 22, 2004
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) released the ATSDR ToxProfiles 2004 and accompanying ToxFAQsTM CD-ROM, featuring updated toxicologic and epidemiologic information, interaction between chemical mixtures and chemical-specific fact sheets.
Release Date: Friday, August 27, 2004
No on-site contaminants or dust releases from the Atlantic Station Redevelopment Project are at levels that would cause adverse health effects, according to the public health consultation the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is releasing today. The project is under multiphase construction near downtown Atlanta.
Release Date: Friday, February 27, 2004
A case study on Iodine 131 (I-131) is now available on the ATSDR internet site http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HEC/CSEM/iodine/index.html. This case study discusses the ways in which people were exposed to I-131 in the environment, the physical effects, and thyroid tumors of past I-131 exposures.
Release Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2004
ATSDR today announced the release of the ATSDR ToxFAQs and ToxFAQ en Español 2003 CD-ROM, which features a series of chemical-specific fact sheets summarizing hazardous substances. ToxFAQs are accessible in both English and Español on the ATSDR Web site.
Release Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2003
A public health consultation on the Atlantic Station Redevelopment site in Atlanta, Ga., has been issued by ATSDR for public review and comment. The agency categorized the site as no apparent public health hazard and has extended the public comment period through Nov. 30.
Release Date: Friday, August 01, 2003
The health consultation for Atlanta's Atlantic Station redevelopment project finds there is no apparent public health hazard from contamination on the site. The document is available for public review and comment through Sept. 2.
Release Date: Friday, January 10, 2003
ATSDR released seven updated toxicological profiles for hazardous substances found at EPA National Priorities List sites. Five other profiles have been updated and are released for public comment through Feb 24. These will be released as final after ATSDR's review of comments received from the public.
Release Date: Wednesday, January 08, 2003
ATSDR's Voluntary Research Program Works with Industry Groups To Fill Priority Research Needs on Hazardous Substances: Recent Computer Modeling Study Predicts No Effects of Methylene Chloride on Human Immune System
Release Date: Monday, February 25, 2002
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will host a meeting of its Community and Tribal Subcommittee. The primary agenda items for the meeting include: an update on ATSDR's Mission; ATSDR's Fiscal Year 2002 Annual Plan of Work at Department of Defense facilities; ATSDR's Strategic Plan; ATSDR's Public Health Assessment Guidance Manual Overview; and ATSDR Environmental Justice Update. Meetings are open to the public, limited by available space.
Release Date: Thursday, November 08, 2001
ATSDR will host two meetings of its Community and Tribal Subcommittee (CTS) on Tuesday, November 13, and Wednesday, November 14, 2001, at the Sheraton, Colony Square Hotel, 188 14th Street, Atlanta, Georgia.
Release Date: Thursday, November 08, 2001
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of U.S. Department Health and Human Services, today announced the availability of the final version of its public health assessment for the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant in Joliet, Illinois.
Release Date: Wednesday, December 20, 2000
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced today the availability of seven toxicological profiles. The toxicological profiles just released are those for aldrin/dieldrin (update), beryllium (update), creosote (update), DDT/DDD/DDE (update), di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (update), hexachlorobenzene (update), and methoxychlor (update).
Release Date: Friday, October 20, 2000
ATSDR announced today the release of its draft health consultation for the Bulk Distribution Center in Atlanta, Georgia. ATSDR prepared the health consultation in response to a request from residents living near the site who expressed concerns about operations at the center and potential human health effects. ATSDR visited the site and reviewed available environmental data related to the site. This health consultation summarizes ATSDR activities and findings.
Release Date: Sunday, February 27, 2000
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will host a meeting of its Community and Tribal Subcommittee on Tuesday, May 2, and Wednesday, May 3, 2000, at the Holiday Inn Select Hotel, 130 Clairmont Road, Decatur, Georgia.
Release Date: Monday, June 07, 1999
The Agency For Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced today the release of its latest Trichloroethylene (TCE) Subregistry Registrant Report.
Release Date: Wednesday, February 17, 1999
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has released its latest update of the Superfund-mandated Substance-Specific Applied Research Program (SSARP). The update, which was published in the Federal Register on January 15, 1999, provides information on the agency's progress to identify and fill research needs for the most hazardous substances found at waste sites.
Release Date: Tuesday, February 16, 1999
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced today the establishment of its Office of Tribal Affairs. The office is intended to better serve the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes.
Release Date: Thursday, January 14, 1999
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced today the availability of 12 toxicological profiles. ATSDR is directed by Congress to produce toxicological profiles for hazardous substances found at National Priorities List (NPL) sites. Each toxicological profile examines, summarizes, and interprets available toxicologic information and epidemiologic evaluations on a given hazardous substance. Toxicological profiles are reviewed periodically and updated as significant new information becomes available.