|
High concentrations of mercury vapor may harm the nervous, digestive and respiratory systems, and the kidneys. If mercury is disposed of improperly, it can make its way into the environment, where it may harm fish and water quality.
For more information:
Mercury products from household use--such as thermometers, thermostats, athletic shoes, etc--need to be disposed of at one of the household hazardous waste facilities. You can use either the Seattle or King County facilities.
See the following for locations and times of operation..
NOTE: none of these locations accept commercial hazardous wastes. See the Business Waste pages for more information about commercial waste exchange and disposal.
What if I spill mercury, such as breaking a thermometer?
- Respond to the spill immediately.
- Keep all people and pets away from the spill area.
- To minimize the mercury that vaporizes, turn off any heaters and air conditioners.
- Ventilate the area by opening windows and, when possible, keep open at least two days.
- Never use a vacuum cleaner to clean up a mercury spill. Not only will the mercury contaminate the vacuum, the heat from the vacuum will evaporate the mercury, further distributing it throughout the house. Similarly, never use a broom to clean up mercury. It will only distribute the mercury into smaller beads, and will contaminate the broom.
How do I clean up a mercury spill?
- Assemble the necessary supplies before attempting a clean up. These include gloves, an eyedropper, two stiff pieces of paper or cardboard, two plastic bags, a large tray or box, duct tape or packing tape, a flashlight and a wide mouth container. It may be wise to have these supplies stored in one place for easy access if you use a mercury thermometer or other mercury containing devices. Remember that any tools used for clean up should be considered contaminated and disposed of with the mercury.
- Do not touch the mercury. Remove all jewelry and watches from your hands as mercury will bond with metal. Put on gloves, preferably rubber gloves to minimize contact with mercury. Use the flashlight to locate mercury. If the flashlight is directed at an angle, the light will reflect off the mercury beads, making them easier to find.
- Clean up the spill. Different surfaces require different clean up procedures.
- Spills on a hard surface or tightly woven fabric: Use stiff paper to push beads of mercury together. Use the eyedropper to suction the beads of mercury, or working over the tray to catch any spills, lift the beads of mercury with the stiff paper. Carefully place the mercury in a wide mouth container. Pick up the remaining beads of mercury with sticky tape and place contaminated tape in a plastic bag along with the eyedropper, stiff paper and gloves. Label the bag as mercury waste. Place this bag and sealed container in the second bag. Label it as mercury waste and take it to either the wastemobile, the Factoria Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Service, or one of the two fixed Seattle sites (appointment needed for north site).
- Spills on a carpet or rug: Cut out the mercury-contaminated section. This cut-out section, along with all clean up items, should be placed in a plastic bag and labeled as mercury waste. Dispose of it at the Wastemobile, the Factoria Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Service, or one of the two Seattle haz sites.
- Spills in a sink of water: The mercury will sink to the bottom. Remove as much water without disturbing the mercury and recover the mercury with an eyedropper. Place in a wide mouth container, close the lid and seal it with tape. Label it as mercury waste and dispose of it at the Wastemobile, the Factoria Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Service, or one of the two Seattle haz sites.
- Spills in a drain: Mercury will get caught in your sink trap. Working over a tray, remove the trap and pour the contents into a large mouth container. Close the container lid and seal with tape. Label it as mercury waste and take it to the Wastemobile, the Factoria Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Service, or one of the two Seattle haz sites.
Contact the Poison Control Center at 206-526-2121 (local office) or 1-800-732-6985, if you are concerned about exposure to mercury.
What are the health effects of mercury exposure?
Harmful effects due to short-term exposure to elemental mercury are rarely seen any more because of strict controls used in workplaces where mercury exposure might occur. Historically, short-term exposure to high concentrations of mercury vapor caused harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and respiratory systems, and the kidneys. In most cases, exposure occurred when mercury was heated.
What happens when mercury comes into contact with my skin?
Elemental mercury is not known to directly irritate the skin. However, an allergic skin reaction may develop following contact with mercury. In the event of skin contact, immediately wash with soap and water and remove contaminated clothing.
Can mercury hurt my eyes?
There is very little relevant information about the effects of getting liquid mercury in the eyes. It is probably not a direct eye irritant. In one case, droplets of mercury accumulated under the surface of the cornea in a person forcefully sprayed with mercury liquid. After two days, the cornea cleared and vision was normal. High concentrations of mercury vapor can cause redness, burning and inflammation of the eyes. In the case of eye contact, promptly wash with copious amounts of water for 15 minutes (lifting upper and lower lids occasionally) and obtain medical attention.
What happens if mercury is accidentally swallowed or inhaled?
Elemental mercury is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and is more toxic following inhalation. In one report, ingestion of 204gm did not cause harmful effects. In a second report, ingestion of 220mL (approximately 3.0kg) caused immediate effects such as tremor, irritability, forgetfulness and fatigue. It is uncertain whether liver effects observed several months later were related to the mercury exposure. Airborne droplets of elemental mercury are actually more likely to enter the gastrointestinal system rather than the lungs, resulting in lower absorption.
If mercury is swallowed, obtain medical attention immediately. If large amounts are inhaled, move the person to fresh air and seek medical attention at once.
|
