Can mercury from thermometer kill you?

Mercury is a neurotoxin, meaning it attacks the nervous system and brain. In extreme cases, mercury poisoning can lead to coma and death. However, the symptoms of mercury poisoning can be reversed in adults. It takes about six months to a year for the body to naturally remove mercury once the exposure stops.

What happens when mercury falls on skin?

As long as you don’t expose your skin to the metal too much and you wash your hands after then you would be fine. If any mercury did absorb through your skin then the amount will be so small then you would urinate it out, leaving no mercury in your body and meaning it won’t build up to harmful amounts.

Can small amounts of mercury harm you?

Exposure to mercury – even small amounts – may cause serious health problems, and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life. Mercury may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, and on lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.

What should you do if you are exposed to mercury?

If a test shows you have mercury poisoning (too much mercury in your body), your doctor can give you drugs that will remove the mercury from your body. Call the Poison Control Center toll-free, 1-800-222-1222, if you or your doctor need help understanding your test results.

What if I touched mercury from a thermometer?

Mercury is a very toxic or poisonous substance that people can be exposed to in several ways. If it is swallowed, like from a broken thermometer, it mostly passes through your body and very little is absorbed. If you touch it, a small amount may pass through your skin, but not usually enough to harm you.

How much mercury is toxic from a thermometer?

Each thermometer contains about . 5-1.5 grams of mercury. One gram of mercury can contaminate a 20 acre lake, enough to cause a public advisory to be issued on the potential dangers of eating fish caught in that lake.

What do you do if you drop a mercury thermometer?

Slowly and carefully squeeze mercury onto a damp paper towel. Alternatively, use two pieces of cardboard paper to roll the mercury beads onto the paper towel or into the bag. Place the paper towel in a zip locking bag and secure. Make sure to label the bag as directed by your local health or fire department.

How quickly does mercury evaporate?

A pea-sized drop of mercury that goes undetected can take up to 384 days to fully vaporize. In that amount of time, it can cause severe neurological damage—especially in infants and children. Spilled mercury does not act like most liquids.

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