Mercury: interesting facts. Use of mercury in modern industry

Everyone knows well how dangerous mercury balls are since childhood. Severe poisoning, in some cases leading to disability and even death, is one of the possible consequences of such intoxication.

But not in all cases does mercury actually pose a significant health threat. In this article you will learn when to be wary of it and what to do to minimize the risks.

Why is mercury dangerous?

Mercury belongs to substances of the 1st hazard class. When this metal enters the body, it tends to accumulate - 80% of inhaled vapors are not excreted. In acute poisoning it can cause severe intoxication and death, in chronic poisoning it can lead to severe disability. First of all, those organs that accumulate the substance best - the liver, kidneys, and brain - are affected. Therefore, dementia, kidney and liver failure are common results of mercury poisoning. When inhaling vapors, poisoning first affects the state of the respiratory system, later the central nervous system (CNS) and internal organs are affected, and with prolonged exposure, all body systems gradually suffer. Mercury is especially dangerous for pregnant women, as it affects intrauterine development, and children.

However, such severe consequences are caused not by the metal itself, but by its vapors - they are the main danger in everyday life. Balls of mercury from a broken thermometer begin to evaporate already at a temperature of +18°C. Therefore, at home, where the air temperature is usually much higher, the substance evaporates quite actively.

Mercury compounds, such as methylmercury, are no less dangerous to the body. In 1956, mass poisoning caused by this particular compound was discovered in Japan. The Chisso company systematically released mercury into the bay from which the fishermen were catching fish. As a result, 35% of those poisoned by contaminated fish died. After this incident, such intoxications were called Minamata disease (after the name of the local city). In everyday life, people practically never encounter such severe poisoning.

Acute mercury poisoning has distinct symptoms. Characteristic symptoms include the following:

Weakness.
Nausea and vomiting.
Headache.
Chest and abdominal pain.
Diarrhea, sometimes with blood.
Difficulty breathing, swelling of the mucous membranes.
Salivation and metallic taste in the mouth.
Increase in temperature (in some cases up to 40°C).

Symptoms of poisoning develop within several hours after high concentrations of mercury vapors or compounds enter the body. If during this time the victim does not receive qualified medical care, poisoning will lead to irreversible consequences. A person develops dysfunction of the central nervous system, damage to the brain, liver and kidneys, loss of vision, and with a large dose of a toxic substance, death can occur. Acute poisoning is extremely rare: more often in accidents at work, in domestic conditions such a situation is practically impossible.

Mercurialism, or chronic mercury poisoning, is much more common. Mercury is odorless, so it is almost impossible to notice balls of the substance that, for example, have rolled under the baseboard, in the cracks between the floorboards, or remained in the carpet pile. But even the smallest drops continue to release deadly fumes. Since their concentration is insignificant, the symptoms are not so pronounced. At the same time, small doses over a long period lead to serious consequences, because mercury has the ability to accumulate in the body.

Among the first characteristic signs:

General weakness, fatigue.
Drowsiness.
Headache.
Dizziness.

Long-term exposure to mercury vapor can lead to hypertension, atherosclerosis, brain and central nervous system damage, and increases the risk of tuberculosis and other lung damage. The thyroid gland suffers from mercury vapor poisoning, and heart disease develops (including bradycardia and other rhythm disturbances). Unfortunately, the symptoms of mercurialism in the initial stages of poisoning are non-specific, so people often do not give them due importance.

If a mercury thermometer breaks in the house or metal gets into the open space from another source (for example, from a mercury lamp), it is important to make sure that the mercury is completely collected. It is also necessary to contact services that will help dispose of the substance - collected mercury thrown into a trash container poses no less of a threat.

Of course, the main source of mercury vapor in domestic conditions is a mercury thermometer. On average, one thermometer contains up to 2 grams of mercury. This amount is not enough for severe poisoning (if the mercury is collected correctly and on time), but it is quite enough for mild and chronic intoxication. As a rule, special services of the Ministry of Emergency Situations do not respond to domestic calls, but they will provide advice on a specific case. In addition, they will tell you where to donate the collected metal.

A large drop of mercury and the same amount of metal in small balls will evaporate differently. Due to the larger surface area, small droplets will release more hazardous vapors in a short period. Namely, they are often missed by people who independently eliminate the consequences of a broken thermometer.

The most dangerous situations:

Metal got on upholstered furniture, children's toys, carpet, fabric slippers (it is impossible to completely collect mercury from such surfaces; things will have to be thrown away).
Mercury was kept in a room with closed windows for a long time (this increases the concentration of vapors).
Balls of mercury rolled across the heated floor (the evaporation rate increases).
The floor is covered with parquet, laminate, wooden boards. In order to completely remove all mercury, you will need to remove the coating at the spill site - small balls easily roll into the cracks.

In addition to thermometers, mercury is contained in some devices, mercury discharge lamps and energy-saving fluorescent lamps. The amount of substance in the latter is quite small - no more than 70 mg of mercury. They pose a danger only if several lamps in the room have been broken. Fluorescent lamps must not be thrown into the trash; they must be taken to special recycling centers.

The dangers of mercury are often discussed in the context of vaccinations. Indeed, its compound thimerosal (merthiolate) has been used as a preservative in many vaccines. Back in the 20s of the twentieth century, concentration was quite dangerous; since the 1980s, its content in one dose does not exceed 50 mcg. The half-life of mercury compounds in this amount is about 4 days, even in infants, and after 30 days the substance is completely eliminated from the body.

Despite this, today most vaccines do not contain merthiolate at all. This is connected not so much with the danger of the preservative, but with the scandal that began 20 years ago. In 1998, the most prestigious medical journal Lancet published an article by researcher Andrew Wakefield, who linked vaccination (in particular, the thiomersal-containing MMR vaccine against measles, rubella, mumps) with the development of autism. The material caused heated discussions in the medical community and real panic among ordinary citizens. However, a few years later it was proven that Wakefield’s article was based on false data, it was not based on real facts, and the connection between autism and thiomersal was not proven. A refutation of the material was published in the same Lancet journal. However, it is this article that is actively cited by representatives of the anti-vaccination movement. Today, vaccines produced in Europe and the United States do not contain merthiolate and therefore may not pose any risk of mercury poisoning.

Small amounts of mercury may be found in marine fish and seafood. Ingestion of significant amounts of metal from food, as a rule, causes mild intoxication, the consequences of which are easy to eliminate. First aid for such poisoning is simple - you need to induce vomiting, and then drink a few tablets of activated carbon or take any other sorbent. After this, be sure to consult a doctor. This is especially important for pregnant women and children, since mercury poisoning poses the greatest danger to them.

Symptoms of mercury intoxication:

Nausea.
Dizziness.
Noticeable iron taste in the mouth.
Swelling of the mucous membranes.
Dyspnea.

If a thermometer breaks in the house, do not panic - quickly taken measures will help avoid negative consequences. Pharmacies sell special kits for demercurization, but you can collect mercury without them.

Ventilation and reduction of air temperature
An open window will help reduce the concentration of mercury vapor. It is advisable not to enter the room where the thermometer broke for a few more days, and keep the windows there constantly open. In winter, you should turn off the heated floor and tighten the radiators - the lower the temperature in the room, the less mercury evaporates.

Mercury collection

For large drops you can use a syringe, for small drops - regular adhesive tape, plasticine, wet cotton. Before cleaning, shine a lamp on the place of the broken thermometer - this way everything will be visible, even the smallest balls. Mercury is collected using gloves, shoe covers and a respirator, only in a sealed container (plastic or glass container). All objects on which mercury has come into contact, including what it was collected with, are also placed in an airtight container.

Treating the area where mercury was spilled

Surfaces are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate or a chlorine-containing preparation (for example, “Belizna” in a concentration of 1 liter per 8 liters of water). Leave the floor and surfaces for 15 minutes, then rinse with clean water. The final stage is treating the floor with potassium permanganate (1 g of potassium permanganate per 8 liters of water). As a result, mercury compounds are formed that do not produce vapor.

What is prohibited

Do not collect mercury with a broom, mop or vacuum cleaner. You should also not wash contaminated clothes, slippers, or soft toys - the substance is difficult to wash off, and it may remain in the washing machine mechanism. All items that have been exposed to mercury must be disposed of.

How to help yourself

The person who collected the mercury should wash their hands well after the procedure, rinse their mouth, and brush their teeth. You can drink 2-3 tablets of activated carbon. Gloves, shoe covers and clothing that have been exposed to mercury must be disposed of.

Mercury is a dangerous chemical that, if it enters the human body, leads not only to poor health, but in some cases to death. Mercury can enter the human body in different ways, so you need to know what symptoms indicate mercury exposure, and how to provide first aid to the victim, and how to protect yourself from the phenomenon in question.

Ways of possible mercury poisoning

There are three main sources of mercury that are potentially harmful to the human body:

Food . We are talking about shellfish and sea fish that live in polluted waters. In such cases, shellfish and sea fish accumulate large amounts of mercury, and even after careful/deep heat treatment of the products, an acceptable level of safety is not achieved.
Domestic . Thermometers and energy-saving lamps contain mercury, so they must be handled with extreme caution. In their initial state, these household items do not pose a danger to humans, but if they are broken, it is necessary to collect the leaked mercury as quickly as possible, since its vapors are really harmful. In everyday life, mercury can also be found in mercury tonometers (an instrument for measuring blood pressure), but now they are not used, since modern devices are available.
Medical . Mercury is also widely used in the production of vaccines, amalgam-based drugs, and certain drugs.

The effect of mercury on the human body

The most dangerous is considered to be inhalation of mercury vapor by a person, and the entry of the chemical in question into the gastrointestinal tract, on the contrary, poses a minimal threat to health - it is practically not absorbed. If mercury enters the human body in the form of salts, it will appear almost immediately and will be of a pronounced nature.

Note:Mercury salts are contained in medications for external use, so they should be used only in strict accordance with the instructions. In addition, mercury salts are part of some fungicidal agents used in agriculture and in the production of paints and varnishes - when working with these substances, safety rules must be observed.

Mercury negatively affects human health, regardless of age, but symptoms of poisoning are especially pronounced in children and women. The problem is that mercury molecules are very difficult to remove from the body, and in some cases this process is completely impossible; the harmful substance remains in the tissues and cells, continuing to have a detrimental effect on the functioning of organs and systems.

The consequences of such “delayed” mercury poisoning are:

pathological disorders of the genitourinary system;
development of inflammatory/infectious diseases of the digestive system;
pathological damage to the central nervous system.

Symptoms of mercury poisoning

Mercury poisoning can be acute or chronic. Acute mercury poisoning occur in connection with production violations or accidents, but chronic poisoning is diagnosed against the background of constant inhalation of vapors of the chemical substance in question - for example, if a thermometer was broken and the leaked mercury was not completely removed.

Symptoms of acute mercury poisoning:

Note:in especially severe cases of acute mercury poisoning, the victim rapidly develops pulmonary edema, kidney necrosis and other dangerous complications that lead to death.

Symptoms of chronic mercury poisoning:

constant sensation;
regular low intensity;
unmotivated irritability;
apathy towards the outside world;
persistent tremor of the upper extremities (hand tremors);
decreased sense of smell and taste.

Note:If the negative impact on the human body is prolonged over a long period of time, then pathological and problems in the functioning of the heart and vascular system are observed.

It is worth remembering that in case of poisoning with salts and/or mercury vapor, the central nervous system first suffers - the victim becomes overly irritable, experiences severe fatigue, complains of a constant headache, and begins to experience headaches. Then, if no action is taken to improve health during this period, mercury poisoning leads to a steady increase in body temperature, foci of inflammation (ulcers/sores similar to stomatitis) appear in the oral cavity, the upper limbs and the whole body begin to tremble, and increased sweating is noted. and disorders of the digestive system.

Most often, mercury poisoning at the household level occurs after a thermometer breaks - a trivial incident, but very dangerous to health if certain measures are not taken. This problem often affects small children - they can not only break the thermometer, but also swallow mercury balls.

What to do if the thermometer breaks

First of all, there is no need to panic - it is quite possible to take measures to eliminate the danger from spilled mercury at home on your own. The following procedure must be followed:

All things and surfaces in the room where the thermometer broke are carefully inspected - everything that is contaminated must be put in plastic bags and taken out of the apartment/house. To make it easier to see mercury, you can use a bright flashlight;
collect all the fragments from the thermometer and balls of mercury - to do this, use a rubber bulb ("syringe"), a scoop, a sheet of thick cardboard, and in order to comply with the safety rules for working with chemicals, you need to wear rubber gloves;

Note:It is not recommended to collect mercury balls with a vacuum cleaner, although demercurization professionals use this household appliance. But, firstly, after collecting mercury balls, an ordinary vacuum cleaner cannot be used for its intended purpose, and secondly, even a washing vacuum cleaner will be suitable for further use only after treating it with special disinfectant solutions.

floors and all objects on which mercury has come into contact must be thoroughly washed with a chlorine-containing solution, and then with a solution of potassium permanganate. Moreover, you need to follow a certain sequence: first, the floors/objects are washed with a chlorine solution, then (after 10 minutes - this is the time needed for hard surfaces to dry) - with a solution of potassium permanganate.

What is the essence of this “event”? Mercury ceases to be liquid - salt compounds of this chemical are formed, which do not emit toxic fumes at all, but pose a danger if they enter the human digestive system.

In addition to everything written, you need to take care not only of the cleanliness of the room, but also of your own health:

wash the shoes you wore in the room with soap and soda solution or potassium permanganate;
Rinse the mouth and throat thoroughly with a weak solution of potassium permanganate (it should be slightly pink);
brush your teeth;
drink 2-3 tablets of activated carbon.

What to do if a child swallows a ball of mercury:

give him plenty of water to drink;
induce vomiting;
Call the ambulance team.

How to dispose of collected mercury from a broken thermometer

Many people ask this question - simply throwing it in the trash would be wrong, even dangerous for others. You need to take the mercury collected in a plastic bag to the regional department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations - they are obliged to accept the mercury for disposal. True, most often you have to be persistent in this matter. There is another option - collect the mercury in a plastic bag and cover it with bleach or chlorine-containing substances. Then this bag is wrapped in several more and you can be sure that the chemical in question has been neutralized - safely throw it in the trash.

Note:If there are doubts about the proper disposal of mercury from a broken thermometer, then you need to call specialists. Environmentalists will not only carry out cleanup work, but also measure the content of mercury vapor in the air.

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 followed. 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

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 is a very interesting metal. It is as hard and quite durable as the others, but melts at -38 degrees Celsius. Therefore, mercury can be seen much more often in the form of silvery balls. At room temperature (19 degrees), this metal already begins to evaporate.

In Soviet times, mercury tips were very often used in thermometers. The devices turned out to be very accurate, but at the same time, they were quite dangerous.

What happens if you break such a tip in a thermometer? Mercury belongs to substances of hazard category 1. Its fumes are extremely toxic and can lead to serious consequences. Just 2.5 grams of this substance is enough to kill a person.

Interestingly, it is much easier to combat the consequences of mercury poisoning if it gets on the skin or is even swallowed by a person. In this case, you should also remove it from the skin or induce vomiting to clear the stomach, and consult a doctor as soon as possible. He knows exactly what to do to avoid disaster. But the worst thing is if the mercury balls evaporate and are inhaled by a person:

Mercury vapor is invisible and a person may not be aware that contamination is occurring. She won't smell. Even after mercury is collected, its microparticles can evaporate for weeks, poisoning the body;
80% of inhaled mercury remains in the body, causing severe poisoning;
One broken thermometer is enough to contaminate the air in an area of more than 6,000 square meters, exceeding the permissible level of mercury by 5 or more times.

What does mercury poisoning look like?

There are 2 types of mercury poisoning: acute and chronic. The first implies that a large amount of metal entered the body at once, causing the body to respond to the poison. Chronic poisoning (also called “mercurialism”) develops over several months or even years, during which a person is constantly in contact with small doses of mercury. Micromercurialism is also separately distinguished, when the dose of poison is even smaller, but the effect lasts more than 5 years.

Symptoms of acute mercury poisoning will appear just a couple of hours after contact with the metal. This usually occurs after ingestion of mercury balls, for example by small children who break a thermometer. Symptoms look the same in people of any age. But in children they develop faster and stronger.

Initially, weakness and headache occur. Then problems with the gastrointestinal tract will begin to appear in all their beauty:

Loss of appetite;
There is pain when swallowing;
An unpleasant metallic taste appears in the mouth and profuse salivation begins;
The gums become swollen and begin to bleed;
Nausea and vomiting occur.

If you do not seek help in time, then sharp pains in the abdomen appear due to cramps, and the intestines are also damaged by mercury. Bloody diarrhea begins. Body temperature rises to 40 degrees. Inflammatory processes in the lungs begin: cough, chest pain, shortness of breath. All this can lead to death, so it is better not to delay going to the doctor.

Consequences of mercury on the body

Mercurialism occurs if you inhale for a long time mercury from a broken thermometer or other source. In this case, mercury primarily affects the nervous system. Depending on the state of the body and the dose of poison, the severity of the symptoms may vary, but in general you can see the following picture, extended over a long period of time:

Headaches and dizziness;
Loss of strength: weakness and increased fatigue, drowsiness even when observing the work and rest regime;
Psychological problems: memory impairment, decreased attention and self-control, depression, shyness;
Tremor of the face and limbs with a strong emotional outburst;
Disorders of the senses: smell, taste, touch;
The thyroid gland increases in size;
Disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular and excretory systems.

If the cause of mercury infection is not eliminated, the person becomes disabled due to psychological problems. During pregnancy, mercury can cause pathologies in fetal development.

What to do if the thermometer breaks?

To avoid chronic poisoning due to a broken mercury thermometer, it is necessary to get rid of the dangerous substance as soon as possible in order to reduce the extent of its spread and evaporation. This is not easy to do - balls of mercury are hidden under baseboards and in various cracks on the surfaces of objects; with strong impact, they break into smaller balls and spread even further throughout the house.

To get an idea of what it looks like, you can scatter the beads and then collect every single bead. It's quite difficult. Therefore, in order to avoid health problems, it is better not to break thermometers and switch to using electronic ones.

If there is a danger, you need to call the Ministry of Emergency Situations and entrust this problem to specialists who know exactly what to do with mercury. Before their arrival, it is necessary to remove all people and animals from the room in order to reduce poisoning and also prevent the spread of mercury throughout the apartment.

Under no circumstances should you ventilate the room while the metal is still on the floor. The wind will carry microparticles of mercury everywhere.

The mercury must then be collected quickly to reduce the degree of poisoning.

What should you not do if the thermometer breaks?

Each person has certain habits when cleaning contaminated surfaces. But mercury requires special and delicate handling:

These are all things that should never be done. And in order to minimize the damage, it is necessary to collect mercury from the thermometer as quickly as possible before the arrival of specialists in order to neutralize the danger.

How to properly collect mercury?

Knowing how dangerous mercury is, it is better to try to collect everything, even the smallest balls of this metal. This may involve getting rid of any clothing, carpets or bedding that has had metal spilled on it. It is also likely that the baseboards will need to be removed. If the floor is parquet, then most likely you will need to carefully check all the cracks between the planks.

The first thing to do when a mercury thermometer is broken is to remove all residents from the room. After this, it is necessary to protect the skin and lungs. To do this, you need rubber gloves, shoe covers and a damp cotton-gauze bandage. Then you need to take a container with a tight-fitting lid to collect the mercury. A solution of potassium permanganate is poured into the container. If you don’t have it on hand, you can get by with plain water.

You also need a light source. It is best to use a powerful diode flashlight, placing it parallel to the surface on which the mercury has spilled. This way the balls will be best visible to the naked eye.

By the way, do not delude yourself with the fact that mercury is a metal. Magnets are completely useless when collecting it.

To collect mercury you will need:

Paper or foil;
Soft brush or cotton wool;
Syringe or bulb;
Sand;
Scotch tape or band-aid.

First of all, a thermometer with mercury, or rather with its residues, is placed in a prepared container with water. Then large balls of mercury are collected on the paper, like on a scoop. To do this, it is best to use a soft brush or a piece of cotton wool dipped in a solution of potassium permanganate. As a last resort, you can use another piece of paper. As the metal is collected, it is carefully poured into a container.

The remaining small balls are gradually collected into a syringe. When only microbeads remain on the surface and cannot be collected in any way, it’s time to pick up the patch. The smallest particles of mercury will stick to it. Then the entire harvested “harvest” is again dumped into the container.

Once the bulk of the mercury has been collected, the hardest part begins—cleaning out all the cracks and crevices. It is best to cover them with sand, and then sweep them with a brush or immediately collect them on a plaster.

How to secure your home?

As soon as the collection of mercury is completed, you should begin disinfecting the house. To do this, you will need a rag and a strong solution of potassium permanganate - half a teaspoon of manganese per liter of water. This solution can be replaced with bleach. All wooden and metal surfaces are thoroughly wiped with this solution. You can wash it off in a couple of days.

When the main amount of mercury has been disposed of, it is necessary to ventilate the room for a while (and the longer, the better). All tools and protective equipment should not be thrown away; it is best to take them along with the mercury to a recycling service. It's best to get rid of clothes too.

One way or another, in order not to find out whether mercury is dangerous and to avoid any consequences, knowledgeable people always call demercurization specialists. They know what to do if a mercury thermometer breaks. More importantly, they have all the necessary equipment to determine the extent and neutralize the infestation and ultimately clean the home.