All mercury spills, regardless of quantity, should be treated seriously. Metallic mercury slowly evaporates when exposed to the air. The air in a room can reach contamination levels just from the mercury in a broken thermometer - just a few drops. When liquid mercury is spilled, it forms droplets that can accumulate in the tiniest of spaces and then emit vapors. Health problems caused by mercury depend on how much has entered your body, how it entered your body, how long you have been exposed to it, and how your body responds to it.
The symptoms of mercury poisoning can include:
* impairment of peripheral vision
* disturbances in sensations - that %26quot;pins and needles%26quot; feeling as well as numbness - usually in the hands feet and sometimes around the mouth
* lack of coordination of movements, such as writing
* impairment of speech, hearing, walking
* muscle weakness
* skin rashes
* mood swing, memory loss, and mental disturbances
Coming into contact with too much mercury this way can damage a growing brain, harming the way unborn and young children will be able to think and learn. It can also harm anyone's heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system.
What you should do:
There are some simple DO's and DON'T's to remember if, for example, a mercury thermometer breaks:
DO call your local health department and inform them of the situation.
DO immediately remove children from the area;
DO clean up the silver mercury beads by using one sheet of paper to carefully roll them onto a second sheet of paper, or use an eye dropper to collect it all. Then place the mercury into a plastic bag or airtight container. The paper and eye dropper should also be bagged in a zip-lock container.
DON'T try to soak it up with a towel or rag; doing so only spreads the mercury, breaking it up into smaller beads making it more difficult to find and remove.
DON'T 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.
DON'T vacuum carpeted floors contaminated with liquid mercury.How dangerous is spilled mercury from a thermostat to my three year old daughter and cat, as well as myself?Is that all you can say!
Oh My God, I'm so thankful, were on our way to an emergency room or Were Vacating the house as I'm typing! JEEZ!
I sure hope everyone there ends up OK, why didn't you call an emergency room in the first place instead of trying this, I hope the kids OK
Mike
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How dangerous is spilled mercury from a thermostat to my three year old daughter and cat, as well as myself?AS LONG AS NOT TAKEN INTERNAL B OKHow dangerous is spilled mercury from a thermostat to my three year old daughter and cat, as well as myself?I'm not sure about just touching it. If it sticks to your skin and you injest it, it can be very dangerous. Try to pick up all the cloblets of the mercury as thoroughly as you can with a vacuum cleaner then dispose of the bag. I don't know of any cleaner that will break it down.How dangerous is spilled mercury from a thermostat to my three year old daughter and cat, as well as myself?don't eat itHow dangerous is spilled mercury from a thermostat to my three year old daughter and cat, as well as myself?1-800-222-1222 is poison control's toll free number!It's imperative that you get ALL the mercury up ... it will bead and roll so use a dust broom and dust pan ... don't TOUCH it.
http://pennhealth.com/ency/article/00247
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