Mercury lethal

Baker RF, Blanchfield PJ, Paterson MJ, Flett RJ, Wesson L. 2004. Evaluation of non-lethal methods for the analysis of mercury in fish tissue. Trans Am Fish Soc 133 568-576. 

Evidence suggests that lead exacerbates the toxic effects of mercury. In the rat, the administration of lead nitrate increased kidney and liver glutathione content and resulted in increased mercury deposition in the kidney, along with increased lethality in rats (Congiu et al. 1979). 

Lethality of inorganic and organic mercury compounds to selected species of aquatic organisms... 

Lethality to birds of mercury administered by oral, dietary, or other routes... 

Table 5.7 Lethality of Inorganic and Organic Mercury Compounds to Selected Species of Aquatic Organisms... 

Table 5.8 Lethality to Birds of Mercury Administered by Oral, Dietary, or Other Routes Route of Administration... 

Spann, J.W., R.G. Heath, J.F. Kreitzer, and L.N. Locke. 1972. Ethyl mercury p-toluene sulfonanilide lethal and reproductive effects on pheasants. Science 175 328-331. 

Thain, J.E. 1984. Effects of mercury on the prosobranch mollusc Crepidula fornicata acute lethal toxicity and effects on growth and reproduction of chronic exposure. Mar. Environ. Res. 12 285-309. 

TICs are threats to water systems, but are not as problematic as chemical or biological agents. Consider cyanide with a lethal dose of 25 mg. To contaminate the reservoir mentioned above would require 25 x 200 x 10 mg, or roughly 5,000 kg (5 tons). Dimethyl mercury is lethal at 400 mg more than 50 tons would be required. Of course, it is possible to contaminate a small reservoir or simultaneously a group of several reservoirs. 

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