Mercury

Mercury is a known toxic heavy metal that’s regularly found in water sources due to both natural processed and human activities, entering water bodies through erosion of mercury-containing rocks, volcanic activity, industrial discharge and atmospheric depositions. Exposure to mercury, particularly its organic form called methylmercury, can have detrimental effects on human health, especially on the nervous system as it can cause neurological disorders, developmental issues in children, and other health problems. Implementing regular testing and monitoring measures to minimize or eliminate mercury so that it complies with the standards are essential to ensure the safety of drink water. The removal and minimization of industrial sources, waste disposal sites, and mining activities is crucial in preventing contamination of water bodies. This is where water filtration methods can aid to remove or reduce mercury by using activated carbon filtration systems, which dissolve mercury and coagulation/flocculation processes to remove mercury particles through sedimentation. Mercury is also known to bioaccumulate in fish, it is important to be aware and follow fish consumption guidelines provided by local health authorities, especially for those sensitive such as, pregnant women and young children.