Michael Harbuck
Essay - I 
Dottoressea Hawkins

The Natural Food of Man is Contaminated

	The natural resources of our planet are beconing gradually inedible.  The industriaism that began in the late nineteenth century has 

slowly overtaken nature in the magnitude order of the human speceis' thinking.  Within global areas of high population and manufacturing

density the human refuse and maufacturing wastes degrades the qualituy of nourishment harvested from the oceans, seas, lakes, and 

waterways.  In Florida, the third most populous state of the union of America, as well as being the largeste and most fecund sport fishing 

region on the planet, the levels of th e element Hg ( Mercury, Quicksilver, Hydragyrum (l.) ) have become so profound, that only between 

one and four fish per month are recommended for consumption by adults from any waterway or body of water in the Florida fishing 

domain.  The source of natural sustainance has been significately contaminated, and should be a great convern to all persons.  

	The heavy metal poison enters the natural ground water system of waterways by several means.   Geologic formations with

naturally occuring deposits account for some of the found mercury.  Insustrial factories exude mercury with waste water and cooling water 

into the lakes and rivers, and are a second source.  The thermal transformation of coal, which is the primary source of electrical power in 

the State of Florida, also releases heavy elements in to the atmosphere, being a third initial entry point in to the organic world of the 

biosphere.  Incinerators, such as those used my hospitals also release mercury vapor into our circum-terranic gas bubble.  These vapors 

then condense or form compounds wiht other elements, and rain down upon the Earth into the ground water system.  According to the 

"Florida Fishing Regulations 2007-2008' developed and written by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision Division of 

Freshwater Fisheries Management all water bodies in the Florida managed water system contain mercury.  

	The biological chain of the contaminant begins in the destruents, which are mainly bacteria feeding upon dead and decaying 

matter.  These same microscopic organisms then take up the elemantal form of the metal and bond this organically with the organism.  A 

process of accumulation then occurs, as the smaller organisms are eaten by the larger and the percentage of the contaminant grows with 

each ascension upward within the food-chain.  Consequently, the large, long lived organisms, namely predatory fish, contain more of the 

metal within it's muscle tissue where the organically bound metal is concentrated. The benefits of eating fish have been touted for years.  

The high protein content as well as the minerals and oils feed the human body the nutrients it need to grow and repair itself.  The fact 

that the maximum recommended ammount of consumed fish has gradually been reduced over the years, and that the recommended 

levels have been assessed so low that humans would not be able to sustain themselves from the harvested fish without highly possible 

detrimental heath consequences to the brain and nervous system should have to be a great burdon on future humans.  
	
	The lacksidasical attitude of industries and the persons who manage them, as well as the education of persons regarding the  

proper disposal of the mercury containing electronics and electrical appliances that have already become a permanent feature in the past 

decade,  is  of vital importance if the society is to become aware of the fact that food is being contaminated.  For example, many of the 

large lamps which light the warehouses and  work areas in the industrial world are of the Mercury Vapor type.  When these are broken 

upon replacement, and or thrown into the municipal waste, the metal within is released into the environment, and will eventually be 

absorped my the ground water system.  Secondly, the liquid crystal displays of many of the laptops in use contain mercury lamps used as 

lighting.  There are oftern disposed of improperly, which adds to the accumlation of heavy metals at waste facilities, rather than being 

recycled or being dosposed of in a more proper manner.  

	If the prioroties of the human race is to continue to live and develop on the planet Earth, then there will be several large concerns 

within the next fifty years.  Global warming, loss of clean water, and contaminated food supplies will only exascerbate the existing 

problems which many countries and peoples face.  It is no longer a question of whether or not man harms his environment, but rather is,  

if he is intelligent enough to change and adapt without creating further damage.  Nature is forgiving, but man has perhaps taunted her to 

the point of retribution.  Bewaware of your environment, and care for it as it were your own.  For it is.