Elemental mercury is put to magico-religious uses, most
problematically the sprinkling of mercury on floors of homes in Caribbean
and Latino communities. Indoor mercury spills are persistent and release
toxic levels of mercury vapor over long periods of time. Surveys in these
communities have demonstrated widespread and large-scale mercury sales for
ritualistic use, elevated mercury vapor levels in public hallways,
increased amounts of mercury in wastewater, and elevated urine mercury
levels in Latino children. Yet no clear connection has been drawn between
ritualistic mercury use and these elevated levels, nor has any pathology
been associated with such use. Social, political, and economic factors
have acted to preclude advocacy for these affected communities, whose
members are largely unaware of their mercury exposure (frequently
secondhand) and of its adverse health effects. Without the political
mandate to act, environmental agencies have not allocated the resources
necessary for environmental professionals to assess and respond to this
latent environmental health disaster. Steps to investigate and respond to
this impending public health emergency are suggested, as presently there
is no coordinated plan for assessing and remediating the tens of thousands
of dwellings around the country likely to be contaminated with actionable
levels of mercury vapor.