Mercury Thermometer Broke?!
Question: My mom asked me to go grab the thermometer that we had in the medicine cabinet. When I did, I realized that we hadn't used the thermometer in years and decided it was best to sterilize it in case anything was on it. I first washed it off with normal water, but then thought 'Fire?' and got my dads lighter and started to slowly go over it evenly, not thinking that Mercury heats up. Before I even thought of this, the mercury bulb exploded and frightened me terribly as some got onto my skin. I didn't worry so much, because it didn't burn but I quickly looked around for whatever mercury had leaked and found that nothing was leaking or smelling. When I came to clean up the area, I had found that the mercury turned into small balls and easily scooped them up and washed my arms.
What I'm wondering is, is this a health concern? It wasn't a lot of mercury but I'm still wondering.
Answers: My mom asked me to go grab the thermometer that we had in the medicine cabinet. When I did, I realized that we hadn't used the thermometer in years and decided it was best to sterilize it in case anything was on it. I first washed it off with normal water, but then thought 'Fire?' and got my dads lighter and started to slowly go over it evenly, not thinking that Mercury heats up. Before I even thought of this, the mercury bulb exploded and frightened me terribly as some got onto my skin. I didn't worry so much, because it didn't burn but I quickly looked around for whatever mercury had leaked and found that nothing was leaking or smelling. When I came to clean up the area, I had found that the mercury turned into small balls and easily scooped them up and washed my arms.
What I'm wondering is, is this a health concern? It wasn't a lot of mercury but I'm still wondering.
You should be just fine, but please read the following concerning the cleanup. Make sure you get it all up, you do not want it to evaporate in the room.
What never to do about a mercury spill:
Never sweep the area with a broom. Sweeping breaks the mercury into smaller droplets, further contaminating the room and the broom.
Never use an ordinary household vacuum cleaner to clean up mercury. Vacuuming vaporizes the mercury and increases the concentration of mercury in the air that can result in poisoning.
Never pour mercury down the sink drain. It may stay in the plumbing.
Never wash mercury contaminated clothes in the washing machine. Mercury can contaminate the washing machine.
Never walk around if your shoes or socks may be contaminated with mercury. That will spread the mercury droplets all over the house.
Never use household cleaning products to clean the spill, particularly products that contain ammonia or chlorine. These chemicals will react violently with mercury, releasing a toxic gas.
How do I clean up a spill from a broken thermometer?
Before beginning the clean up, change into old clothes and shoes that can be thrown away if they get contaminated with mercury.
NOTE: If you are wearing gold jewelry, either remove the jewelry or wear good protective gloves. If the liquid mercury contacts the gold jewelry, the mercury bonds permanently to the gold and ruins it. Wearing gloves is a good idea to prevent mercury from lodging under the fingernails while cleaning.
Increase ventilation in the room with outside air and close the room off from the rest of the house. If available, use fans for at least one hour to help ventilate the room.
Pick up the mercury with an eyedropper or scoop up beads with a piece of heavy paper (e.g., playing cards, index cards).
Wide sticky tape such as duct tape can also be used to pick up any glass particles and mercury beads.
Powdered sulfur (which can be purchased at garden supply stores) can be used to bind any remaining mercury. When the sulfur combines with mercury the sulfur turns from the usual yellow color to brown. Continue to use sulfur until there is no longer a color change. Keep in mind that sulfur can be irritating to the skin, nose, throat and eyes. Sulfur may also stain fabrics.
Place the mercury, contaminated instruments (dropper/heavy paper) and any broken glass in a plastic zipper bag. Place this zipper bag in a second zipper bag and then in a third zipper bag (triple bag), tightly sealing each bag with tape. Place the bags in a wide-mouth, sealable plastic container.
Throw away everything that may have been exposed to the mercury including towels, bedding, clothes if they were contaminated.
Call your local health department for the nearest approved mercury disposal location. If disposal at such a location is not possible, dispose of the plastic container according to state and local requirements.
If weather permits, leave windows open for approximately two days to make sure the area is completely ventilated.
Wash hands very well with soap and water afterwards. Shower well if you think any mercury touched other parts of your body.
as long as it didn't get in your mouth or an open wound you should be alright. never mess with mercury ,it is as toxic as it gets. nex't to plutonium.