Often, symptoms may take months or years to develop. These symptoms are from continuous low-dose exposures to mercury over long periods of time, as are often the case during plant operations. However, symptoms can develop almost immediately from short-term high-dose exposures.

The Olin Corporation announced today it will convert its mercury-based chlor-alkali manufacturing plant in Charleston, TN to modern, mercury free technology and eliminate mercury from its plant operation in Augusta, GA.

Mercury is most dangerous when it is inhaled. You cannot see it, smell it, or even taste it. While you breath it in it is damaging your body at a cellular level.

A Richmond County chemical maker is conducting its own tests of sediment in its drainage canal after a high school student found elevated mercury levels as part of a science fair project.

Mercury is a highly toxic element. It vaporizes at room temperature and the vapors are neurotoxic, killing neurons and other molecular structures throughout the body.

Environmental group renewed its call for an Olin Corp. chlorine plant to stop mercury pollution that is contaminating the Hiwassee River in eastern Tennessee.

Olin Corporation's plan to abandon the use of mercury at its 44-year-old Augusta chlor-alkali plant doesn't mean the toxic material will be gone after 2012.

For many years industries have used mercury in their industrial processes. With the knowledge of how toxic mercury is to the human body, they have still chosen to contaminate those families in and around their facilities.