Mercury: Environmental considerations, part I

Abstract

Mercury is present in nature, as in the laboratory, in three different oxidation states. Thus mercury is commonly found as the chloride salt, calomel, it is found as the ore cinnabar, and elemental mercury is encountered, usually in the vapor state, wherever certain mercury compounds are subject to high temperatures. This paper discussed mercury in the natural environment and the problems caused when mercury was introduced into the natural environment through pollution of the air, land, and water. 585 references, 64 figures, 46 tables.