Mercury has been used since ancient times in the manufacture of medicines such as calomel; it was credited with antiseptic properties. But poisons were also made from it.
The dangers of mercury are now widely known. But is it always necessary to be afraid of this substance?
You are heavy...
We all have some mercury in us—the average person has about 13 mg of it.
Have you ever lifted a 10 liter bucket filled to the brim with water? So, if there was mercury in this bucket, you would not be able to lift it. 1 liter of mercury weighs 13.6 kg.
There was a time when mercury was considered an excellent talisman; So, the ancient Egyptians carried a bottle of it with them - for good luck. And their priests placed small vessels filled with mercury into the throats of the mummies of the pharaohs; it was believed that they would protect their owner in the afterlife.
Does it heal or cripple?
More recently, in the 1970s, mercury was widely used in medicine. Thus, patients were prescribed the drug Mercuzal as a diuretic - it contained mercury ions. Mercury chloride was prescribed as a laxative along with castor oil; Many medicinal ointments contained mercuric cyanide. Dentists put mercury-containing fillings in people without hesitation.
And if you remember the ancient Indian yogis, they actually took a terrible drink, which included balls of mercury and sulfur. And they were sure that this contributed to longevity. The Chinese did not lag behind and also ate mercury - as part of the “immortality pills”.
In the 15th-16th centuries, it was customary to treat syphilis with mercury - which, alas, often led to mercury intoxication; The patient experienced hair loss, a sharp change in mental state, and even epileptic seizures.
Today, the toxic properties of mercury are well known, and pharmacists no longer include it in such quantities in medications. However, mercury is still included in vaccinations. There are different opinions about how bad it is; Thus, “anti-vaxxers” cite the mercury content in vaccines as their main argument.
Small amounts of mercury are found in sea water. It is no wonder that fish and other marine life are able to accumulate it in their bodies. It’s okay for them, but people who eat fish and seafood every day are under attack. This hardly concerns you and me - the average Russian eats fish two to three times a week, no more often. But the poor Colombians and Brazilians are suffering. According to studies by American scientists, tuna and lobster turned out to be especially “mercurial”. True, fishing companies publicly call such information horror stories. I wonder why?
For home, for family
The vast majority of people have mercury thermometers, and from time to time they break, especially in the hands of small children.
So what happens if you accidentally swallow mercury balls from a thermometer? Oddly enough, nothing. Our gastrointestinal tract, fortunately, is not capable of absorbing solid substances, so all the balls will safely come out with waste, and that’s it.
Much more dangerous than mercury vapor. True, according to some experts, this danger is greatly exaggerated: the vapor density limit is much lower than that of air, and in order to actually inhale, there must be a lot of vapor - in any case, more than from one broken thermometer.
And yet, God protects those who are protected. If you break the thermometer, collect all the balls with cotton wool or a pipette, and then ventilate the room. The area where the mercury was spilled can be wiped with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or a soap-soda solution, which should be washed off with water after a couple of days.
You should not store a broken thermometer at home. The Internet is full of advice to take it to the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Practice shows that the Ministry of Emergency Situations is very surprised at proposals to immediately accept mercury-containing fragments and refers them to the local disinfection center. In theory, they should accept a broken thermometer - for such things, as well as for damaged mercury lamps, they should have a special box.
Mercury (Hg, from lat. Hydrargyrum) - an element of the sixth period of the periodic system of chemical elements of D.I. Mendeleev with atomic number 80, belonging to the zinc subgroup (a side subgroup of group II). Simple substance mercury- a transition metal, at room temperature it is a heavy silvery-white liquid, the vapors of which are extremely toxic. Mercury is one of two chemical elements (and the only metal), the simple substances of which, under normal conditions, are in a liquid state of aggregation (the second such element is bromine).
1. History
origin of name
2 Being in nature
2.1 Deposits
3 In the environment
4 Isotopes
5 Receipt
6 Physical properties
7 Chemical properties
7.1 Characteristic oxidation states
7.2 Properties of metallic mercury
8 Use of mercury and its compounds
8.1 Medicine
8.2 Technique
8.3 Metallurgy
8.4 Chemical industry
8.5 Agriculture
9 Mercury toxicology
9.1 Hygienic regulation of mercury concentrations
9.2 Demercurization
Story
Astronomical symbol of the planet Mercury
Mercury has been known since ancient times. It was often found in its native form (liquid drops on rocks), but more often it was obtained by firing natural cinnabar. The ancient Greeks and Romans used mercury to purify gold (amalgamation) and knew about the toxicity of mercury itself and its compounds, in particular sublimate. For many centuries, alchemists considered mercury to be the main component of all metals and believed that if liquid mercury was restored to hardness with the help of sulfur or arsenic, gold would be obtained. The isolation of mercury in its pure form was described by the Swedish chemist Georg Brandt in 1735. To represent the element, both alchemists and today use the symbol of the planet Mercury. But the belonging of mercury to metals was proven only by the works of Lomonosov and Brown, who in December 1759 were able to freeze mercury and establish its metallic properties: malleability, electrical conductivity, etc.
origin of name
The Russian name for mercury comes from praslav. *rtǫ tь, associated with lit. rìsti"roll". The symbol Hg is borrowed from the Latin alchemical name for this element hydrargyrum(ancient Greek ὕδωρ “water” and ἄργυρος “silver”).
Being in nature
Mercury is a relatively rare element in the earth's crust with an average concentration of 83 mg/t. However, due to the fact that mercury weakly binds chemically to the most common elements in the earth's crust, mercury ores can be very concentrated compared to ordinary rocks. The most mercury-rich ores contain up to 2.5% mercury. The main form of mercury in nature is dispersed, and only 0.02% of it is contained in deposits. The mercury content in different types of igneous rocks is close to each other (about 100 mg/t). Among sedimentary rocks, the maximum concentrations of mercury are found in clay shales (up to 200 mg/t). In the waters of the World Ocean, the mercury content is 0.1 μg/l. The most important geochemical feature of mercury is that among other chalcophile elements it has the highest ionization potential. This determines such properties of mercury as the ability to be reduced to an atomic form (native mercury), significant chemical resistance to oxygen and acids.
Mercury is present in most sulfide minerals. Its especially high contents (up to thousandths and hundredths of a percent) are found in fahlores, stibnites, sphalerites and realgars. The proximity of the ionic radii of divalent mercury and calcium, monovalent mercury and barium determines their isomorphism in fluorites and barites. In cinnabar and metacinnabarite, sulfur is sometimes replaced by selenium or tellurium; The selenium content is often hundredths and tenths of a percent. Extremely rare mercury selenides are known - timanite (HgSe) and onofrite (a mixture of timanite and sphalerite).
Mercury is one of the most sensitive indicators of hidden mineralization not only of mercury, but also of various sulfide deposits, therefore mercury halos are usually detected above all hidden sulfide deposits and along pre-ore faults. This feature, as well as the low mercury content in rocks, is explained by the high elasticity of mercury vapor, which increases with temperature and determines the high migration of this element in the gas phase.
Under surface conditions, cinnabar and metallic mercury are insoluble in water, but in their presence (Fe 2 (SO 4) 3, ozone, hydrogen peroxide), the solubility of these minerals reaches tens of mg/l. Mercury dissolves especially well in sulfides of caustic alkalis with the formation, for example, of the HgS nNa 2 S complex. Mercury is easily sorbed by clays, iron and manganese hydroxides, shales and coals.
About 20 mercury minerals are known in nature, but the main industrial value is cinnabar HgS (86.2% Hg). In rare cases, the subject of extraction is native mercury, metacinnabarite HgS and fahl ore - schwatzite (up to 17% Hg). At the only Guitzuco deposit (Mexico), the main ore mineral is livingstonite HgSb 4 S 7. In the oxidation zone of mercury deposits, secondary mercury minerals are formed. These include, first of all, native mercury, less commonly metacinnabarite, which differ from the same primary minerals in greater purity of composition. Calomel Hg 2 Cl 2 is relatively common. Other supergene halide compounds are also common at the Terlingua deposit (Texas): terlinguaite Hg 2 ClO, eglestonite Hg 4 Cl.
Why is mercury dangerous for humans? Every home has a thermometer containing this substance. You need to handle it carefully so as not to break it.
Mercury is a toxic substance in any form. How does an overdose occur? What danger does poison pose to human health?
What is mercury
Mercury is a metal in liquid form. Capable of becoming solid and turning into gas. When it hits a flat surface, it takes the form of many balls and quickly spreads across the plane. It begins to evaporate at temperatures above eighteen degrees.
In nature, it is formed during volcanic eruptions, cinnabar oxidation, and is released from aqueous solutions.
Mercury is classified as a hazardous substance of the first class. The metal itself and its compounds are highly toxic to humans. Once in the body, they cause serious disruption of organ function.
What does mercury look and smell like?
Mercury has a white-silver color and is a liquid, although it is a metal. Capable of evaporation in room conditions. What does mercury smell like? The gas has neither color nor odor, which makes it dangerous for living organisms. There is no unpleasant sensation when inhaled. There may be a metallic taste in the mouth.
You can get poisoned in different ways. It is not recommended to swim in industrial ponds; when working with the substance, safety rules must be observed. At home, it is recommended to be careful when using mercury thermometers and energy-saving light bulbs.
How can you be poisoned by mercury from a thermometer?
Mercury is used in a thermometer due to its ability to react to temperature - when it increases, it expands, when it decreases, it contracts. If the thermometer is broken, the mercury will flow out and scatter into many small balls. Many people don't realize how harmful it is to them and others. Is it possible to be poisoned by mercury from a thermometer?
The balls need to be collected as quickly as possible so that they do not begin to evaporate. There is no smell of mercury, so you need to act carefully and do not delay cleaning for several days. How to get poisoned by a compound at home? There are three methods of intoxication.
Able:
- Ingestion. It often occurs in young children who try to taste mercury from a broken thermometer.
- Contact with the mucous membrane, skin. Poisoning develops gradually, the liver being the first to suffer.
- Inhalation of fumes. The most serious and dangerous method, because a person simply does not smell the gas.
After the thermometer breaks, you must collect all the balls, wrap them and call a specialized service. You need to collect the particles of the compound carefully, without missing a single one. Otherwise, the resulting mercury vapor will poison surrounding people.
When ingested, mercury interacts with selenium. The result is damage to the enzyme capable of producing a specific protein necessary for normal human life.
What happens if you inhale mercury? Vapors of the element that enter the body negatively affect the nervous system and disrupt all vital processes.
Symptoms and signs of mercury poisoning
How does mercury poisoning from a thermometer manifest? What is recommended to pay attention to in order to provide timely assistance to the injured person?
With prolonged exposure to a substance, it accumulates in the body and is not eliminated on its own.
Signs:
- Constant headaches, medications in this case are powerless;
- Presence of a metallic taste in the mouth;
- Deterioration of general condition, apathy, drowsiness, lethargy;
- Trembling of limbs;
- Increased body temperature;
- Painful sensations in the abdominal area;
- The appearance of ulcerative formations in the stomach;
- Internal bleeding;
- Inflammatory processes in the respiratory tract;
- Swelling of the lungs;
- The appearance of seizures;
- Loss of consciousness, falling into a coma.
The symptoms of mercury poisoning are similar to heavy metal intoxication. The doctor will be able to make an accurate diagnosis after conducting the necessary examinations.
Chronic poisoning is characterized by a gradual development of symptoms. A person experiences hair and teeth loss, many diseases become chronic due to weakened immunity.
Methods and methods for treating intoxication
If the described signs of poisoning are detected, you must urgently call a doctor. Before his arrival, the victim must be given first aid to alleviate his condition. How to help with poisoning at home?
What to do:
- The victim is taken out of the dangerous room and is not allowed to continue breathing the substance;
- Wash the eyes and all mucous membranes with cool water, rinse the mouth with a solution of manganese;
- Clothes that have been exposed to mercury are immediately wrapped in polyethylene;
- only permissible using a probe;
- The victim is given large quantities of milk to drink.
After the doctor arrives, the poisoned person is sent to a medical facility. Treatment of poisoning takes a long time and includes various procedures. The course is determined individually for each patient. First of all, the mercury antidote – Unithiol – is administered.. Depending on the severity of the poisoning, a specific regimen for administering the substance is selected.
During the treatment process, drugs are used to restore the functioning of internal organs after poisoning. Be sure to use antiallergic drugs, various vitamin complexes, and drugs to strengthen the immune system.
The average duration of treatment is thirty to forty days. Mild forms of poisoning can be treated at home.
Lethal dose for humans
Can you die from mercury? A similar phenomenon cannot be ruled out, although in most cases the prognosis is favorable. Depending on the type of mercury, the lethal dose of the substance will vary.
Dose:
- The amount of mercury in inorganic substances is from 10 to 40 mg/kg of weight for adults and children;
- The presence of liquid metal in organic compounds, a dosage of 10 to 60 mg/kg will be dangerous;
- The lethal dosage of mercury vapor is considered to be 2.5 g;
- When ingested through the oral cavity, 0.1 to 3 g of the substance is dangerous.
The lethal dosage is different for each person. However, vapor poisoning is considered more serious and severe for all people, and the risk of death increases significantly.
Prevention
It’s easy to avoid poisoning at home. Prevention will help protect yourself from unpleasant consequences.
Measures:
- The thermometer should not be left in places accessible to children;
- Children should only use the device under adult supervision;
- If a thermometer breaks, you need to clean the room as quickly as possible.
What to do if the thermometer shattered into pieces and mercury scattered on the floor? In such a case, they perform actions that can protect the people around them.
Actions:
- Urgently open the windows in the room, but do not allow drafts - small balls will simply blow away;
- They put on unnecessary clothes, gloves on their hands, and a damp bandage on their face;
- 2 grams of potassium permanganate are diluted in a liter of water;
- Prepare a soap solution;
- Mercury balls are collected using paper or tape; you cannot use a vacuum cleaner;
- Wash the floor with soapy water;
- Place mercury balls in a container with potassium permanganate;
- Clothing, shoes, gloves are placed in plastic bags, tied tightly and, together with mercury, handed over to the emergency service;
- Afterwards, take a shower, wash all mucous membranes, take activated carbon - a tablet per kilogram of weight.
Mercury metal poisoning at home is possible. Care must be taken when using a thermometer. In emergency situations, be sure to call specialists to avoid negative health consequences.
Video: the dangers of mercury for humans
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Mercury is a metal that is somehow familiar to humans. Some interact with mercury in the course of their activities, others simply use a mercury thermometer, but absolutely everyone should know how dangerous mercury from a thermometer is for humans.
According to statistics, more than half of cases of mercury poisoning occur due to people’s careless attitude towards thermometers. Due to the specific use of the thermometer, as a rule, it breaks in apartments and other residential premises, carrying with it a mortal threat to the inhabitants.
At room temperature, the metal appears as small balls of a metallic color. Before answering the question of why mercury from a broken thermometer is dangerous, it should be noted that the threat lies not in the substance itself, but in the vapor. They begin to form already at room temperature, poisoning everyone who gets into the affected area.
Types of poisoning and their symptoms
The hazard class of the metal is in first place, but the main thing is that mercury vapor penetrates the human body unnoticed, since it does not have any aroma. There is not much of it in the thermometer, but even this amount can cause significant harm if you do not get rid of it quickly and correctly.
Metal poisoning is divided according to the class of complexity into 3 cases:
- Chronic. The effect of mercury from a thermometer appears only over time, causing health problems. In particular, a significant risk of hypertension, tuberculosis, and atherosclerosis develops. The important thing is that this is possible already several years after contact. Chronic poisoning can be determined by the characteristic tremors of the hands, lips, legs, and fingers. The person is irritated, apathetic, feels unwell and complains of headaches and fatigue.
- Spicy. They arise after serious accidents that happen at enterprises. This stage can be recognized by vomiting, bleeding and swelling of the gums, and shortness of breath. Further possible baldness, pneumonia, loss of vision, and sometimes even paralysis. Mercury in such quantities is especially dangerous, since poisoning of such strength provokes death after a few days, in the absence of treatment.
- Mild or household, which usually include food poisoning.
Mild poisoning occurs most often, in approximately 65% of cases. They appear almost immediately if metal particles enter the esophagus and a little later if they penetrate the respiratory tract. In particular, cyanosis, nausea, and shortness of breath appear. If such symptoms are detected, a number of measures should be taken, and an ambulance should be called after them. So, upon penetration into the stomach, it is necessary to induce vomiting. Mercury vapor poses the greatest danger to those who are least protected - children and pregnant women. Their body is weakened and very susceptible to the external environment, so you should be more careful.
Danger - broken thermometer
Not everyone understands how dangerous a broken thermometer is. Some people are in no hurry to sound the alarm, but their antipodes, on the contrary, are very serious about cleaning up balls of metal that have spilled from the thermometer. Doctors tend to support the latter, because it is very easy to get poisoned by harmful fumes - this metal begins to release them already at +18 degrees, and this is standard room temperature!
Particular attention should be paid to the problem of mercury if there are children in the living space. They are most susceptible to the effects of harmful metals, since a small organism is simply not able to resist the poison. In this case, it is recommended to get rid of all mercury thermometers and purchase modern electronic thermometers.
In fact, in everyday situations, it is not only the mercury in the thermometer that poses a danger. Nowadays, energy-saving and fluorescent lamps are also very common. The content of this metal in such light bulbs is equivalent to tens of milliliters, while in a thermometer it is only 2 grams.
Negative effects on the body
Metal negatively affects the following vital organs:
- Kidneys
- Lungs
- Liver
- Nervous system
Inhalation of mercury through the lungs (vapor) is characterized by a number of symptoms:
- Irritability
- Sleep disturbance
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Apathy
- Malfunction
The above symptoms are generalized. Each person's body is unique. Some signs may appear, but others may not. It is important to remember that if at least 2-3 of the listed symptoms were found, you must urgently go to the nearest hospital to identify the causes.
Getting into the respiratory organs is why a broken thermometer is dangerous, especially if the mercury was discovered late, it threatens chronic poisoning. Therefore, in each individual case, the severity of the symptoms depends on how long the person inhaled the fumes. After all, up to 80% of this metal is not excreted, remaining in the body. It is especially dangerous if the mercury balls were improperly removed and rolled into the cracks and remained there. The larger the area of spread mercury, the higher the intensity of evaporation.
So, as already mentioned above, a household thermometer contains up to 2 grams of mercury, and inhaling such an amount of vapor is enough to cause death. Even 0.001 mg/m3 can provoke the development of severe diseases with a chronic course. If the mercury was poorly removed, then the symptoms inherent in chronic poisoning will appear after a few months.
It is fair to note that the metal itself does not pose any danger, and in the old days it was even used for treatment. The harm of mercury lies precisely in its vapors, which it emits, as well as other types of mercury compounds (for example, salts). But a serious concentration of vapors will accumulate in the body only if they are constantly in the air for at least several months. In any case, you need to be careful and not break thermometers, and if you have already broken them, it is better to do it right immediately, so as not to expose your loved ones and yourself to the danger of poisoning.
The first information about compounds containing mercury reaches us from time immemorial. Aristotle mentions it for the first time in 350 BC, but archaeological finds indicate an earlier date of use. The main areas of use of mercury were medicine, painting and architecture, the manufacture of Venetian mirrors, metal processing, etc. People found out its properties only experimentally, which required a lot of time and cost many lives. The fact that mercury is dangerous to humans has been known since its use began. Modern research methods and methods are much more effective and safer, but people still don’t know much about this metal.
Chemical element
Under normal conditions, mercury is a heavy liquid of a white-silver color; its belonging to metals was proven by M. V. Lomonosov and I. A. Brown in 1759. Scientists have proven that in a solid state of aggregation it is electrically conductive and can be forged. Mercury (Hydrargyrum, Hg) in the periodic table of D.I. Mendeleev has atomic number 80, is located in the sixth period, group 2 and belongs to the zinc subgroup. Translated from Latin, the name literally means “silver water”, from Old Russian - “to roll”. The uniqueness of the element lies in the fact that it is the only one that is found in dispersed form in nature and occurs in the form of compounds. A drop of mercury rolling down a rock is an impossible phenomenon. The molar mass of the element is 200 g/mol, the atomic radius is 157 pm.
Properties
At a temperature of 20 o C, the specific gravity of mercury is 13.55 g/cm 3, for the melting process -39 o C is required, for boiling - 357 o C, for freezing -38.89 o C. The increased pressure of saturated vapors gives a high evaporation rate . As the temperature rises, mercury vapor becomes the most dangerous for living organisms, and water or any other liquid is not an obstacle to this process. The property most in demand in practice is the production of amalgam, which is formed as a result of the dissolution of a metal in mercury. With a large amount of it, the alloy is obtained in a semi-liquid state of aggregation. Mercury is easily released from the compound, which is used in the process of extracting precious metals from ore. Metals such as tungsten, iron, molybdenum, and vanadium cannot be amalgamated. Chemically, mercury is a fairly stable element that easily transforms into a native state and reacts with oxygen only at high temperatures (300 o C). When interacting with acids, dissolution occurs only in nitric acid and metallic mercury is oxidized by sulfur or potassium permanganate. It actively reacts with halogens (iodine, bromine, fluorine, chlorine) and non-metals (selenium, phosphorus, sulfur). Organic compounds with a carbon atom (alkylmercury) are the most stable and are formed under natural conditions. Methylmercury is considered one of the most toxic short-chain organometallic compounds. In this state, mercury becomes most dangerous to humans.
Being in nature
If we consider mercury as a mineral that is used in many industries and areas of human economic activity, then it is a rather rare metal. According to experts, the surface layer of the earth’s crust contains only 0.02% of the total amount of the mentioned element. The largest part of mercury and its compounds is found in the waters of the World Ocean and is dispersed in the atmosphere. Recent studies show that the Earth's mantle contains large amounts of this element. In accordance with this statement, such a concept as “mercury breathing of the Earth” arose. It consists in the process of degassing with further evaporation from the surface. The largest release of mercury occurs during volcanic eruptions. Subsequently, natural and man-made emissions are included in the cycle, which occurs due to combination with other elements under favorable natural conditions. The process of formation and decay of mercury vapor has been poorly studied, but the most likely hypothesis is the participation of certain types of bacteria in it. But the main problem is methyl and demethyl derivative compounds, which are actively formed in nature - in the atmosphere, water (bottom muddy areas or sectors of the greatest pollution with organic substances) - without the participation of catalysts. Methylmercury has a very high affinity to biological molecules. What is dangerous about mercury is its ability to accumulate in any living organism due to its ease of penetration and adaptation.
Place of Birth
There are more than 100 mercury-containing and mercury minerals, but the main compound that ensures the profitability of mining is cinnabar. In percentage terms, it has the following structure: sulfur 12-14%, mercury 86-88%, while native mercury, fahlores, metacinnabarite, etc. are associated with the main sulfide mineral. The dimensions of cinnabar crystals reach 3-5 cm (maximum), the most common ones are 0.1-0.3 mm in size and may contain impurities of zinc, silver, arsenic, etc. (up to 20 elements). There are about 500 ore deposits in the world; the most productive deposits are in Spain, Slovenia, Italy, and Kyrgyzstan. Two main methods are used to process ore: oxidation at high temperatures to release mercury and enrichment of the starting material with subsequent processing of the resulting concentrate.
Areas of use
Due to the fact that the danger of mercury has been proven, its use in medicine has been limited since the 70s of the 20th century. An exception is merthiolate, which is used to preserve vaccines. Silver amalgam is still found in dentistry today, but is being actively replaced by reflective fillings. The most widespread use of hazardous metal is recorded in the creation of instruments and precision instruments. Mercury vapor is used to operate fluorescent and quartz lamps. In this case, the result of the impact depends on the coating of the light-transmitting body. Due to its unique heat capacity, metallic mercury is in demand in the production of high-precision measuring instruments - thermometers. The alloys are used to make position sensors, bearings, sealed switches, electric actuators, valves, etc. Biocidal paints previously also contained mercury and were used to coat ship hulls, which prevented them from fouling. The chemical industry uses salts of this element in large volumes as a catalyst for the release of acetaldehyde. Sublimate and calomel are used to treat the seed fund - toxic mercury protects grain and seeds from pests. In metallurgy, amalgams are most in demand. Mercury compounds are often used as an electrolytic catalyst for the production of chlor alkali and active metals. Gold miners use this chemical element to process ore. Mercury and its compounds are used in jewelry, mirror production, and aluminum recycling.
Toxicity (what is dangerous about mercury)
As a result of anthropogenic human activity, the concentration of toxic substances and pollutants in our environment increases. One of these elements, ranked first in terms of toxicity, is mercury. Organic and inorganic compounds and vapors pose a danger to humans. This is a cumulative, highly toxic poison that can accumulate in the human body for years or enter at once. The central nervous system, enzymatic and hematopoietic systems are affected, and the degree and outcome of poisoning depend on the dose and route of penetration, the toxicity of the compound, and the time of exposure. Chronic mercury poisoning (accumulation of the substance in the body) is characterized by the presence of asthenovegetative syndrome and disruption of the nervous system. The first signs are: trembling of the eyelids, fingertips, and then the limbs, tongue and the whole body. With further development of poisoning, insomnia, headaches, nausea, disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, neurasthenia, and memory impairment appear. If mercury vapor poisoning occurs, the characteristic symptoms are respiratory diseases. With continuous exposure, the excretory system fails, which can lead to death.
Poisoning with mercury salts
The fastest and most complex process. Symptoms: headache, metallic taste, bleeding gums, stomatitis, increased urination with a gradual reduction and complete cessation. In severe forms, damage to the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and liver is typical. Even if a person survives, he will remain disabled forever. The action of mercury leads to protein precipitation and hemolysis of red blood cells. Against the background of these symptoms, irreversible damage to the central nervous system occurs. An element such as mercury poses a danger to humans in any form of interaction, and the consequences of poisoning can be irreparable: having an impact on the entire body, they can affect future generations.
Methods of penetration of poison
The main sources of poisoning are air, water, and food. Mercury can be absorbed through the respiratory tract when the substance evaporates from a surface. The skin and gastrointestinal tract have good throughput. For poisoning, it is enough to swim in a body of water that is polluted by industrial discharges containing mercury; eat foods with a high content of a chemical element that can enter them from infected biological species (fish, meat). Mercury vapor poisoning occurs, as a rule, as a result of professional activities - when safety precautions are not observed in industries related to this element. Poisoning at home is no exception. This occurs due to improper use of devices and instruments containing mercury and its compounds.
The danger of mercury from a thermometer
The most commonly used high-precision medical instrument is a thermometer; it is found in every home. Under normal household conditions, most people do not have access to highly toxic compounds that include mercury. “The thermometer was broken” - this is the most likely situation of interaction with poison. Most of our compatriots still use mercury thermometers. This is explained primarily by the accuracy of their readings and the population’s distrust of new technologies. If the thermometer is damaged, mercury, of course, poses a danger to humans, but illiteracy poses an even greater threat. If you quickly, efficiently and effectively carry out a series of simple manipulations, then the harm to health, if any, will be minimal.
Stage 1
First of all, you need to collect all the parts of the broken thermometer and mercury. This is the most labor-intensive process, but the health of all family members and pets depends on its implementation. For proper disposal, you must take a glass container, which must be hermetically sealed. Before starting work, all residents are removed from the premises; it is best to go outside or to another room where constant ventilation is possible. The process of collecting mercury drops cannot be performed using a vacuum cleaner or broom. The latter can crush larger metal fractions and provide a larger area for their distribution. When working with a vacuum cleaner, the danger lies in the process of heating the engine during operation, and the effect of temperature will accelerate the evaporation of particles, and after this this household appliance cannot be used for its intended purpose, it can only be disposed of.
Sequencing
- Wear a disposable medical mask, shoe covers or plastic bags on your shoes.
- Carefully inspect the place where the thermometer was broken; If there is a possibility of mercury getting on textiles, clothes, carpets, then they are hermetically packed in a garbage bag and disposed of.
- The glass parts are collected in prepared containers.
- Large drops of mercury are collected from the floor surface using a sheet of paper, a needle or knitting needles.
- Armed with a flashlight or increasing the illumination of the room, you need to expand the search for smaller particles (due to the color of the metal it is easy to find).
- Floor cracks, parquet joints, and baseboards are carefully inspected to eliminate the possibility of smaller drops getting in.
- In hard-to-reach places, mercury is collected with a syringe, which must subsequently be disposed of.
- Small drops of metal can be collected using adhesive tape or adhesive tape.
- During the entire operating time, you must go into a ventilated room or outside every 20 minutes.
- All items and improvised means used to collect mercury must be disposed of along with the contents of the thermometer.
Stage 2
After careful mechanical assembly, it is necessary to chemically treat the room. You can use potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) - a solution of high concentration (dark color) in the amount required for the treated area. Be sure to wear new rubber gloves and a mask. All surfaces are treated with the resulting solution using a rag, and existing recesses, crevices, cracks and joints are best filled with the solution. It is better to leave the surface untouched for the next 10 hours. After the specified time, the potassium permanganate solution is washed off with clean water, then cleaning is carried out using detergents throughout the apartment. For the next 6-7 days, be sure to carry out regular ventilation of the room and daily wet cleaning. To make sure there is no mercury, you can invite specialists with special equipment from epidemiology centers.
Treatment methods for intoxication
WHO identifies 8 of the most dangerous substances, the content of which in the atmosphere, food and water must be carefully monitored due to their danger to human life and health. These are lead, cadmium, arsenic, tin, iron, copper, zinc and, of course, mercury. The hazard class of these elements is very high, and the consequences of poisoning with them cannot be completely stopped. The basis of treatment is to protect the person from further contact with the poison. In mild and non-chronic cases of mercury poisoning, it is excreted from the body in feces, urine, and sweat. The toxic dose is 0.4 ml, lethal - from 100 mg. If you suspect an interaction with poison, you should contact a specialist who, based on test results, will determine the degree of intoxication and prescribe therapy.