Memory loss, grumpiness, general anxiety, trembling. While this might sound like an average morning after a fun night, it actually describes the symptoms of Mercury poisoning. Despite this chemical element's toxicity to the human nervous and immune system, mercury is utilised in everyday items such as batteries, lightbulbs, and thermometers.  

But this isn't just a modern hazard. Back in the 1800s, hat makers unknowingly used mercury to soften fabrics - a grave mistake that resulted in brain damage and coined the phrase “mad as a hatter.” As the only metallic element that is liquid at room temperature, Mercury has gained the nickname ‘quicksilver’ and it finds its origins in the depth of the Earth’s crust.