The small silvery ball in a mercury thermometer can be dangerous if the glass breaks and the mercury is not cleaned up properly. The mercury will evaporate and can contaminate the surrounding air and become toxic to humans and wildlife.
What should I do if I break a mercury thermometer?
Use the eyedropper to collect or draw up the mercury beads. Slowly and carefully squeeze mercury onto a damp paper towel. Alternatively, use two pieces of cardboard paper to roll the mercury beads onto the paper towel or into the bag. Place the paper towel in a zip locking bag and secure.
Is it dangerous if a mercury thermometer breaks?
The small silvery ball in a mercury thermometer can be dangerous if the glass breaks and the mercury is not cleaned up properly. The mercury will evaporate and can contaminate the surrounding air and become toxic to humans and wildlife.
What happens if you touch mercury from a broken thermometer?
MERCURY EXPOSURE
If it is swallowed, like from a broken thermometer, it mostly passes through your body and very little is absorbed. If you touch it, a small amount may pass through your skin , but not usually enough to harm you.
How do you clean a broken mercury free thermometer?
Cleanup and Disposal
The non-mercury thermometers are non-toxic and environmentally safe. The broken glass should be placed in a sharps container to prevent injury. The remaining liquid can be cleaned up with soap and water .
What gets rid of mercury?
The traditional treatment for mercury poisoning is to stop all exposures. In many cases, chelation therapy is also used. This involves giving a medication (the chelator) which goes into the body and grabs the metal (chelos is the Greek word for claw) then carries the metal out of the body, usually into the urine.
Can you throw away a mercury thermometer?
Where California Households Can Dispose of Mercury Fever Thermometers. Mercury fever thermometers must not be placed in the trash and must be disposed of as household hazardous waste .
Does mercury vapor go away?
Elemental or metallic mercury is a shiny, silver-white metal; it is mostly liquid at room temperature. It is often called “quicksilver”. ... At room temperature, exposed elemental mercury can evaporate to become an invisible, odorless toxic vapor . This vapor has a very long life (up to one year) in the air.
What organ is affected by mercury?
High exposure to inorganic mercury may result in damage to the gastrointestinal tract, the nervous system, and the kidneys . Both inorganic and organic mercury are absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and affect other systems through this route.
How do I know if my thermometer is broken?
- Fill a pot with water, and place the thermometer in the pot. ...
- When the boiling is constant and rolling, make sure it’s reading 212°F or 100°C (at sea level).
- Set a timer for five minutes, then check the thermometer again.
What happens if you breathe in mercury vapor?
The inhalation of mercury vapour can produce harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys, and may be fatal . The inorganic salts of mercury are corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.
What happens if mercury touches gold?
Freddie Mercury may have had the golden voice, but real mercury, that endlessly entertaining and dangerous liquid metal, has the golden touch. That is, if it touches gold it will immediately break the lattice bonds of the precious metal and form an alloy in a process known as amalgamation.
Is mercury poisonous to drink?
Background: The oral ingestion of elemental mercury is unlikely to cause systemic toxicity , as it is poorly absorbed through the gastrointestinal system. However, abnormal gastrointestinal function or anatomy may allow elemental mercury into the bloodstream and the peritoneal space.
How do you dispose of mercury at home?
Put the items that contains mercury in a zipper top bag and seal the bag. Place the sealed bag in a plastic container with a lid. Pack the container with kitty litter or newspapers to prevent breakage. Make sure the container is labeled “Mercury: Do Not Touch.”
What is inside a non mercury thermometer?
The alcohol thermometer or spirit thermometer is an alternative to the mercury-in-glass thermometer and has similar functions. ... An organic liquid is contained in a glass bulb which is connected to a capillary of the same glass and the end is sealed with an expansion bulb.
How long does it take to detox from mercury?
A blood test indicates whether you’ve been exposed to mercury in the last few days. However, blood levels of certain types of mercury decrease rapidly within three to five days .
