The Danger in Your Medicine Cabinet
Mercury Campaign
Mercury from a single thermometer is enough to contaminate a lake to the point
where the fish are unsafe to eat!
Fact Sheet
www.cleanair.org Mercury Campaign, Factsheet
Mercury Thermometers
Why is A Mercury Health Threat?
Mercury comes from a variety of different sources.
Initially mercury is released from volcanoes and geothermal
activity, but in recent times various types of human
activity have produced large quantities of mercury. Major
sources of airborne mercury emissions are electric coal-fired
power plants and the incineration of medical waste and other
devices containing mercury. Mercury is also dumped onto the
land where it contaminates the solid waste stream. Mercury
thermometers alone contribute 17 tons of mercury to the solid
waste stream each year.
What To Do if A Thermometer Breaks
The small amount of mercury contained in a thermometer may
not seem like a health threat. However, even tiny amounts of
mercury need to be treated seriously as it is an extremely powerful
toxin.
Mercury dissipates extremely quickly and separates into many
smaller beads. Hence, if mercury escapes from a broken thermometer
it can very easily soak into a carpet or spill into a gap.
If you break a mercury thermometer immediately turn off heaters
to minimize the amount of mercury that evaporates. Ventilate
the room by opening windows and leaving them open for a
least two days where possible. This will help aid the diffusion
of any evaporated airborne mercury.
Do not use a vacuum cleaner, broom or mop to clean up a
mercury spill. The mercury will contaminate these
devices and the heat from the vacuum will evaporate
even more mercury into the air. The clean-up
of mercury requires a number of other supplies, so
assemble the following items: rubber gloves, a
flashlight, an eye dropper, tape, a sealable container,
and a plastic bag. Before attempting to clean
up the spill, remove all jewelry and watches as the
mercury will bond to the metal. Do not touch the
mercury - put on rubber gloves to avoid contact
with the skin.
Where Does Mercury Come
From?
If a mercury spill is not cleaned up it will all evaporate and reach
potentially dangerous levels in the air. The danger is intensified
if the breakage occurs inside a small, poorly ventilated
room. The skin is also vunerable when exposed to mercury,
resulting in eczema and other skin irritation problems.
Cleaning a mercury spill from a carpet: Unfortunately as mercury
soaks into carpet so readily, the section of carpet contaminated
with mercury must be cut out. Seal the section of carpet
along with the gloves and other items used to clean the spill in
a plastic bag or container labelled ‘mercury waste’.
Cleaning a mercury spill from a hard surface: Mercury beads
can be located with a flashlight, the metal beads will reflect in
the beam. An eye-dropper can be used to suck up larger beads
of mercury. Tape can then be used to pick up the remaining
mercury. Seal the contaminated eye dropper as well as the tape
and mercury beads in a plastic bag or container
labelled ‘mecury waste’.
Cleaning a mercury spill from a sink:
Mercury beads remaining in the sink can
be removed with an eyedropper. If there is
water in the sink the mercury will sink to
the bottom, where it can be removed care-
Mercury is an extremely dangerous neurotoxin and causes severe
health problems for humans and wildlife.
Once mercury is airborne it falls in precipitation and contaminates
lakes, rivers and other waterbodies. Mercury is absorbed
by fish where it accumulates in their body tissue. Many states
now have advisories on waterbodies to warn people against
eating fish that may be contaminated with mercury.
To date, the recorded health effects of mercury poisoning include
impaired memory, delayed development, reflex abnormalities,
lung, kidney and liver damage, and even cerebral
palsy. The effects are especially great for developing
fetuses and nursing infants. Therefore,
pregnant women and women of childbearing age
are also at risk.
Mercury Campaign
What Can You Do?
Contact Us:
Clean Air Council
135 S. 19th St., Ste. 300
Philadelphia, PA 19103
PH: 215-567-4004
FX: 215-567-5791
www.cleanair.org
• Replace all mercury fever thermometers (glass thermometers
containing a silver liquid) with digital, glass alcohol or
glass gallium-tin thermometers. All of these thermometers are
currently available in pharmacies at comparible prices.
• Dispose of all mercury fever thermometers at a household
hazardous waste drop-off site. To find out where your nearest
drop-off site is, contact your state pollution control agency.
• Contact Emily Bertram at 215-567-4004, x226 or by email at
ebertram@cleanair.org, to find out about the next “mercury
thermometer round-up” taking place at a hospital near you!
• Assemble the necessary supplies and clean a spill up