Written by Jenny Catton
The liquid metal mercury can be found in tiny amounts within the environment around us. It’s used in some types of light bulbs and in thermometers. It also occurs in dental amalgam fillings and can be found in fish – particularly shark, swordfish, marlin and tuna.
Although mercury is poisonous, most medical experts agree that the small amounts of mercury present in these everyday items aren’t high enough to cause mercury poisoning. However if you have broken a light bulb or thermometer you should take care whilst cleaning up the mercury by wearing gloves and old clothes which you can throw away afterwards. It’s also important to leave the room to ventilate for at least 24 hours. If you have spilled a larger amount of mercury, or are worried about cleaning up mercury, your local council will be able to offer advice.
When it comes to dental fillings some people have opted to have their amalgam fillings removed. However some dentists have pointed out that removing an amalgam filling can expose the patient to more mercury vapours during the removal process than just leaving it in place. When receiving a new filling, many dentists now give their patients the choice between an amalgam filling and a composite resin filling.
When it comes to eating fish, the Food Standards Agency recommends that you should limit shark, swordfish or marlin to one portion each week and that pregnant women should avoid these fish completely. In addition pregnant women are advised not to eat more than two fresh tuna steaks or four medium-sized cans of tuna each week.
For more information about mercury in fish, visit: www.food.gov.uk
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