1	Exposure to Mercury in West Virginia Public Health Report – Draft Version Bureau for Public Health West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
2	Mercury Man’s activities put more mercury in the environment than would otherwise naturally occur. Exposures to mercury can be reduced, but not eliminated, by restricting the emissions associated with man’s activities.
3	Mercury in the environment
4	Everyone is exposed to mercury
5	Mercury is a neurotoxin The health effects from mercury exposures are of special concern for unborn babies and young children because it is a neurotoxin. The public health report estimated exposure doses to a 1-year-old child (weighing 24 pounds), women of childbearing age, and other adults.
6	Possible health effects People who do not eat fish are exposed to mercury (other than from mercury spills) at levels unlikely to cause adverse health effects. People can obtain the benefits of eating fish while avoiding harmful amounts of chemicals by following fish advisories. People who eat a lot of fish containing mercury may be at risk for subtle neurological effects. Subtle neurological effects are apparent only with carefully-designed scientific study.
7	Are we exposed to mercury in amounts that may affect public health? We don’t know enough about the fish-eating habits of people in West Virginia and the mercury content of the fish they eat to answer this question.
8	Mercury spills are hazardous Elemental mercury vaporizes at room temperature. Vapors are colorless and odorless. People have been exposed to hazardous amounts without being aware of their exposure. Spills must be cleaned up properly to avoid spreading contamination.
9	Fish are part of a balanced diet WVDHHR recommends that people follow WV and US fish advisories to: obtain the benefits from eating fish (such as the omega-3 fatty acids needed for proper neurological development) while avoiding exposures to chemicals at levels that may affect their health.
10	WVDHHR’s Public Health Goal Reduce the number of mercury-based fish consumption advisories in West Virginia.
11	Conclusions Reducing the amount of mercury in the environment will reduce the amount of mercury available to bioaccumulate in fish tissue. However, there is inadequate data to allow WVDHHR to estimate the effect restricting mercury emissions in West Virginia might have on this state’s fish.
12	Exposure to Mercury in West Virginia Scientific and other appropriate evidence relevant to this report will be accepted until July 27, 2006. Comments may be filed via: e-mail: barbarajsmith@wvdhhr.org facsimile: 304-558-6020 mail: Barbara J. Smith, OEHS, Capitol and Washington Streets, 1 Davis Square, Suite 200, Charleston, West Virginia 25301-1798
13	Report availability http://www.wvdhhr.org/rtia/atsdr.asp call 304-558-2981