Holly Frisby, DVM, MS
Veterinary Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.
What Is Mercury?
Mercury is also known as quicksilver because it is a silver-colored liquid. It is a naturally occurring element that can cause serious environmental and health problems.
What Are the Common Sources of Mercury?
Mercury has been used in various industries and as a medical treatment for centuries. Because of its toxicity, its use has become more regulated. The main source of exposure to mercury today comes in the form of airborne particles released when coal, oil, or natural gas are burned as fuel or mercury-containing garbage is incinerated. The airborne mercury can then fall to the ground with rain and snow, and contaminate soil or bodies of water. Lakes and rivers are also contaminated by direct discharges of mercury-laden industrial waste or municipal sewage being emptied into them. In turn, mercury accumulates in fish and can cause health hazards when consumed.
There are several common sources of mercury in a household including thermometers, fluorescent lights, button-cell batteries, barometers, thermostats, electrical switches, some blood pressure measuring devices, and in the switches of the lights commonly found in children's athletic sneakers (those that "light-up" with each step).
What Are the Health Problems Associated With Mercury?
Mercury is toxic to humans and animals, and can cause harm to the nervous system, cardiovascular system, digestive tract, kidneys, and cause birth defects and affect the development of young children. Mercury vapors, e.g., resulting from a broken mercury thermometer, enter the body through the lungs from where the mercury may then be distributed throughout the body. The amount of mercury vapor released from a broken thermometer does not present an immediate health hazard, but extended exposure will cause health problems.
How Can I Decrease Exposure to Mercury?
To protect you and your pets from mercury hazards:
- Choose alternatives to mercury-containing products, for example, switch to electronic thermometers and thermostats.
- Recycle used fluorescent bulbs, which use mercury in the powder inside the glass.
- Separate mercury-containing waste and broken or used equipment containing mercury from your trash. Find out if there is a household hazardous waste collection program that will accept these.
- If you do need to use elemental (liquid) mercury, make sure it is safely stored in a leakproof container. Keep it in a secure space (e.g., a locked closet) so that others cannot easily get to it.
- Follow your health department's recommendations on the amount of fish you and your family can safely consume.
- Know what to do in case you are exposed to liquid mercury.
Precautions you should take during the clean-up of mercury:
- DO NOT use a vacuum to clean up mercury. The filters in household and even high efficiency vacuums will not remove mercury vapors. Of even greater concern, the vacuum exhaust will put more mercury vapor in the air. The vacuum will also be contaminated. If you already have used a vacuum to clean a spill, carefully place the vacuum in a double bag, seal the bag, and remove it from the building. Quickly isolate the areas as described below because there may be higher amounts of mercury vapor in the air.
- DO NOT use a broom to clean up mercury. It will break the mercury into smaller beads, further spreading it and making more vapor.
- DO NOT touch the mercury with your hands. Use latex gloves for proper protection.
- DO NOT use household cleaners to clean the spill. Some of them could react with the mercury and release harmful gasses.
- DO NOT allow people whose shoes have contacted mercury to take their shoes beyond the spill area. Further contamination of the building may result.
- DO NOT put mercury in the trash. Mercury can be released in the environment and will further threaten human health.
- DO NOT put mercury or mercury-containing items in a burn barrel. Vapors and smoke will be produced releasing mercury into the environment and create an exposure risk.
- DO NOT pour or allow mercury to go down a drain. It can lodge in the trap, and produce airborne vapor creating an inhalation risk. It will also lead to mercury contamination of the wastewater system.
- DO NOT wash mercury-contaminated items in a washing machine. Mercury may contaminate the machine and/or be discharged to the environment in wastewater.
