Mercury is an exceptional metal, one that under typical conditions is a liquid. It is used in measuring devices and vacuum pumps. Connections mercury used as detonating substances, as well as in medicine and agriculture. The well-known fluorescent lamps also glow due to the vapor mercury. This substance is still used in hydrodynamic bearings that are subjected to particularly heavy loads. How can you find them in the air?
Instructions
1. There is a primitive and visual method based on a good reaction mercury with copper iodide. The resulting substance with the formula Cu2(HgI4) has a pink-scarlet color. The higher the saturation mercury, the correspondingly more saturated its color.
2. To make an indicator, you will need porous filter paper, any soluble copper salt, say, chloride, sulfate, a solution of potassium iodide or sodium iodide, as well as a solution of sulfite or sodium hyposulfite.
3. The paper is cut into strips (the size is not important, but for comfort it is better to have small ones), dipped in a solution of copper salt, after which it is removed, slightly dried, and dipped in a solution of iodine salt. The resulting copper iodide will be located mainly in the pores of the filter paper, and iodine will be on the surface, causing the paper to “turn brown.” Then the strips are placed in a solution of sodium sulfite (hyposulfite). The iodine is removed (this can be seen by the discoloration of the paper). The strips should be washed in clean water, dry. They are ready. It is advisable to take care of them dark place, in a closed container.
4. If there is any doubt that there are couples mercury, you need to put one strip in each room being checked. After a few hours, we check to see if their color has changed. If it turns pinkish-red, this is an alarm. This means there is mercury in the air! It is necessary to take measures to identify and remove the source of this poison.
Mercury is a unique element; it is a metal that is found in liquid form under typical conditions! There are no more such metals in every periodic table. Mercury vapor is extremely poisonous and leads to severe poisoning, therefore, it is very important to detect their presence in the air in a timely manner! Tea, the special trick of this element is that for the time being it negative impact doesn't show up at all.
You will need
- – filter paper;
- – copper salt;
- – potassium iodide solution.
Instructions
1. Take filter paper (preferably with huge pores), any soluble copper salt, say, copper sulfate, a solution of potassium iodide and a solution of sodium hyposulfite (also known as sodium thiosulfate, previously widely used as a “fixer” component in photography).
2. Cut the paper into small rectangular strips, say 2x5 cm. Dip these strips in the solution copper sulfate. Then, after drying them a little, dip them in a solution of potassium iodide. The paper will quickly turn brown.
3. After this, rinse the strips in sodium hyposulfite solution. The paper will become discolored. After washing in clean water and drying, the strips are ready for use. They should be stored in a dark, tightly closed container.
4. What is the point of the procedures performed? First, the strips were soaked in copper salt, which settled on every surface of the paper (including in its pores). Then, when copper sulfate interacts with potassium iodide, was formed new salt- copper iodide, and pure iodine was given. The salt was “concentrated” in the pores, and the iodine was concentrated on the “smooth” areas of the paper, which is why it took on a chestnut color. After washing with sodium thiosulfate solution, the iodine was removed, and the copper iodide remained in the pores of the strips. And from that moment on, the paper became an “indicator”, suitable for detecting mercury.
5. When you need to check whether the air contains mercury vapor, remove the prepared indicator strips from the container and place them in the room. After a few hours, see if the paper has taken on a pinkish-scarlet tint. If accepted, it means that copper iodide reacted with mercury, forming a complex compound Cu2(HgI4), that is, the air is polluted with mercury vapor! Take immediate measures to remove the source of contamination and disinfect the room.
If you break a thermometer with mercury or a mercury lamp, then do not panic, the situation is not extremely dangerous. You need to easily collect all the balls mercury from the surface. It is more difficult if the mercury has slipped into hard-to-reach places, say, in cracks gender or under the baseboard. Little by little it will begin to evaporate, and the vapors can lead to poisoning. That's why you need to try to find all the balls mercury and collect them as quickly as possible.
You will need
- – potassium permanganate
- – chlorine-containing agent
- – sulfur
- - thin metal plate
- – tassel
- – rubber bulb
- – tape or raw tampon
Instructions
1. First of all, be sure to open the window or window to lower the temperature in the room because the lower the temperature, the less mercury evaporates.
2. After this, ask people to leave the room in which you need to collect mercury from gender. Close the door so as not to spread mercury balls throughout each apartment. At the entrance to the room, lay a rug treated with a solution of potassium permanganate.
3. Now you can boldly begin demercurization. Demercurization is measures to prevent evaporation mercury. You can use several methods: Now more and more kits are appearing that neutralize household mercury contamination. The attached instructions will help you do everything positively, step by step. This kit should be kept in your home medicine cabinet.
4. If you don’t have a demercurization kit, use a brush to collect the huge balls into a paper envelope. Use a rubber bulb to collect smaller balls, and use adhesive tape or a damp swab to collect the smallest droplets. Close the collected mercury tightly in the jar. After this, thoroughly wash the floor and treat it with a solution of potassium permanganate.
5. If mercury gets into places where it is difficult to remove, then use the old method - fill them with sulfur. If you don't have sulfur, then use a thin metal plate and push it into the cracks. Balls mercury“will be attracted.”
6. If mercury gets on soft things, shake them out and then ventilate them in the air for 4 months.
7. Later extraction mercury, you need to wash the floor. The most affordable and effective method– a solution of soap and soda (500 g of soap, 600 g of soda per 8 liters of water). Effectively treat the floor and walls with a 1% iodine solution, the same one you can get by purchasing a 10% iodine solution in a pharmacy, and dilute it in a proportion of 100 ml per 1 liter of water. It would also be great to wash the surface with any chlorine-containing product.
Note!
The main thing! Do not collect balls of mercury into one large ball. Don't vacuum! The vacuum cleaner, heating up, increases the area of mercury evaporation, and the droplets that fall into it will then spread in the form of vapor.
Helpful advice
And remember! Never throw mercury into trash cans or toilets. In a well-closed glass jar, take the mercury to the SES.
To determine humidity pair modern experts often use specialized devices based on mechanical separation of water, overheating using electric current etc. But how to determine humidity pair, if similar devices are not at hand?
You will need
- – two thermometers (liquid mercury);
- – a small piece of gauze;
- – vessel;
- – table for determining the dew point;
- – psychrometric table.
Instructions
1. Method one: Take a small air sample into a prepared, sealed container. Cool the container with the contents. When cooling the air in a vessel, you need to continuously monitor each process so as not to miss the moment when dew drops appear on the walls of the vessel.
2. Record the temperature at which the first drops of dew form. It is this figure that will be the dew point at which the steam present in the vessel will become intense and begin to gradually turn into liquid.
3. Determine the density of intensive pair corresponding to the measured temperature. The resulting figure will show the unconditional humidity pair .
4. Method two: Take two prepared thermometers. Wrap the vial of one of them, which contains mercury, with several layers of gauze. Dip the wrapped part in water and take it out into the air. Wait until the temperature registers on the thermometers. You should be aware that the temperature on a wet thermometer will be lower than on a dry bulb. Record the temperatures and detect their differences.
5. Find the column on the psychrometric table with the value that the dry thermometer showed. You can take the closest value in the table if the exact one is not available. Swipe along the line until the intersection of the columns, which contains a number corresponding to the calculated temperature difference.
6. Look at the number. It will be indicated as a percentage and will indicate relative humidity(?). Using the 2nd table, find the density of intensive pair(?н) for the temperature indicated by the dry bulb thermometer.
7. Discover humidity pair, multiplying the detected relative humidity(?) on the density of intense pair(?n) and dividing the resulting total by 100%, that is, according to the formula: ? = ? *?n / 100%
Mercury is a very unsafe metal, the vapors of which can cause irreparable damage to human health. However, this substance is present in every home in energy-saving lamps, mercury thermometers, and ordinary household items.
Undoubtedly, the amount of mercury in household items is small, but if an extremely fragile glass capsule is damaged, it is enough to slowly poison the body. In any case, you should know what to do when a lamp or thermometer breaks.
Mercury collection
If the thermometer breaks, you should quickly collect the mercury. A vacuum cleaner is not suitable for these purposes, because, on the contrary, it will spray this liquid metal around the room. It's cooler to take an enema and collect mercury in it. After this, it should be taken to the disposal point. You should not throw mercury in the trash, because doing so may cause harm to people.
Signs of mercury vapor poisoning
If after collecting mercury a person feels pain when swallowing, intense headache, frequent cough, metallic taste in the mouth, indigestion, weakness and drowsiness, chills, then we can talk about poisoning with its vapors. In this case, you need to quickly take action, on the contrary serious complications primitively cannot be avoided. Moreover, the above-described symptoms can occur both together and separately.
Treatment
Treatment of mercury poisoning comes down to the complete and rapid removal of this metal and its salts from the body. In addition, it is necessary to alleviate the general condition of the patient by eliminating the consequences of poisoning and relieving symptoms. It is not recommended to do this without the help of doctors. Treatment should be carried out in a hospital setting, even if there is certain drugs. The patient’s attempts to cope with the poisoning take away precious time. In clinics, they are used to treat mercury poisoning. modern drugs, eliminating this metal from the body. Among them we can name: “Unithiol”, “Taurine”, “Succimer”, “Methionine”, “Allithiamin”. The doctor selects medications depending on the degree of poisoning, the severity of symptoms and the patient’s body’s tolerance of certain substances. If a person has swallowed mercury or its salts, he must first cleanse the body of the remnants of the ingested substance. Will be needed without waiting for the emergency to arrive medical care, urgently induce vomiting. In this case, it will be possible to reduce bad influence metal It is important to remember that mercury is not removed from the body on its own, but has the ability to accumulate in it, and this will later lead to fatal outcome.
Helpful advice
Mercury vapor is extremely toxic and causes serious illnesses a number of organs of the human body. Many residents and guests of St. Petersburg, admiring St. Isaac's Church, do not even suspect that several dozen people involved in gilding its dome died or became disabled because the amalgam method (using mercury) was used during this work. Even one exceptional mercury thermometer, broken in an apartment, can cause trouble. Moreover, mercury vapor has no odor and for the time being does not remind you of anything.
There is a thermometer in every house and apartment. It can be called an essential item, which is indispensable for any ailment. And since most of this device contains mercury, and the body is made of glass, there is a high probability of breaking it due to negligence. And here it is important to know how long it takes for mercury to evaporate, what its danger is and how to eliminate the consequences.
Properties of mercury
Mercury is a metal that is listed as element 80 in the periodic table. Being a cumulative poison, it belongs to hazard class I. This is the only metal that does not turn into a solid state at room temperature, remaining in liquid form. The release of toxic substances begins when the temperature rises to +18 ° C, and since mercury takes a long time to evaporate, this makes it especially dangerous.
An ordinary thermometer contains from 1.5 to 2 g of liquid metal - this amount is very large, and if it evaporates completely in a closed living space, the area of which does not exceed 20 m2, the concentration of toxic vapors will exceed the permissible limit of 0.0003 mg per 1 m 3.
Mercury evaporation rate
In one hour from square meter 0.002 mg of mercury evaporates. Thus, it is easy to calculate the rate of its evaporation in a living room at room temperature by multiplying this indicator by the total area (90 cm 2) of scattered balls: 0.002 x 90/10000 = 0.000018 mg/hour.
But at the same time, the speed of this process will always be influenced by certain factors: temperature fluctuations, quality of air circulation, surface area of scattered particles and total toxic substance. After all, it is not always possible to collect all the mercury. Some of it may roll under baseboards, into cracks and small chips in floors.
One small ball of mercury from a broken thermometer takes a long time to evaporate - at least 3 years. If the house has warm floors and rare ventilation, then this period will noticeably decrease, and, conversely, increase with constant ventilation.
You can also roughly determine how long it takes for 2 grams of mercury to evaporate in a normally ventilated living space. Having made simple calculations, we get a period of 30 years. But remember that everything is conditional.
If we talk about how long it takes for mercury to evaporate outdoors, then this period will also depend on environmental conditions. It is known that under the influence of direct sun rays and air temperature from +35 ˚С to +40 ˚С, the evaporation rate increases by 15-17 times. In the cold season, it correspondingly decreases.
And don’t forget that over time, the rate of mercury evaporation drops - after a couple of weeks it approximately doubles, and so on.
How dangerous is mercury?
So, we found out how long it takes for mercury to evaporate in a room and at what speed this process occurs, from which it follows that 0.18 mg of toxic vapor is released in one hour. Comparing this indicator with the maximum permissible concentration (0.0003 mg/m3), we see a fairly strong excess. But this still doesn’t say anything. The fact is that the maximum permissible concentration is calculated taking into account the initial criteria - the threshold concentration for a long time - from six months to a year, and plus a guarantee amendment is applied, which reduces this value several times.
There is another value, which is defined as the weekly dose of mercury for a person. It is 5 mg per 1 kg of weight. Thus, it is easy to calculate the maximum permissible dose for each family member. And taking into account the volume of air consumed by a person (25 m 3 per day), we can calculate the maximum permissible dose. For this given value multiply by the permissible level of mercury vapor (0.0003). We get 0.0075 mg per day. We calculate the weekly dose by multiplying the result by 7.
And in order to understand how dangerous mercury from a broken thermometer is, you should determine the volume of air in the room that absorbs the fumes. You can make calculations by multiplying the length of the room by the width and height of the ceilings. In general, it’s worth immediately finding out the volume of air in the entire apartment. This is due to the fact that the vapors of this substance are volatile, and since mercury in the room takes a long time to evaporate, they will certainly spread throughout all rooms. So, when total area 60 m2 and a ceiling height of 2.7 m, we get a volume of 160 m3. We remember that the air is not static; with normal ventilation, 80% of the obtained indicator is replaced in one hour. Thus, circulation automatically increases the volume of air that consumes mercury vapor to 300 m3.
Now you can calculate the mercury concentration. To do this, divide the amount of evaporation (0.18) by the volume (300). The result is 0.006 mg per 1 m 3. We compare it with the acceptable level (0.0003) and understand that not everything is as bad as it might seem at first glance. We have a double dose, which is not critical. However, it should not go unnoticed.
Thus, knowing in what quantity and for how long mercury evaporates and disappears, you can easily determine it potential harm for a specific room and the people living in it.
Symptoms of poisoning
Mercury from one broken thermometer will not cause irreversible changes in the functioning of organs, paralysis or death. But the body is still able to respond to harmful fumes general weakness, decreased appetite, headaches, nausea, metallic taste in the mouth and vomiting. And if similar symptoms are observed, then the victim needs to urgently provide medical assistance. In addition, since mercury from a thermometer takes a long time to evaporate, it will continue its effect on the body of a weakened person. And this, in turn, will worsen the signs of poisoning, which will lead to bleeding gums, abdominal cramps, sharp increase body temperature and loose stool with blood and mucus. This condition requires urgent hospitalization.
Information about how long it takes for mercury to evaporate and why it is dangerous is especially important for parents and women during pregnancy. The main risk group is children, who may develop kidney problems after short-term inhalation. Pregnant women should also beware - there is a risk of intrauterine damage to the fetus.
How to collect mercury?
Understanding how long it takes for mercury to evaporate and what consequences this has, everyone should be able to collect it. First you need to lower the air temperature in the room by turning off all heating devices. If it is cold outside, you can open a window, but only one, so that the draft does not break the scattered balls into smaller particles. In summer it is advisable to turn on the air conditioning. These measures will stop the process of evaporation of toxic metal.
Directly for the cleaning itself, you will need thin copper wire, metal filings or powder, a sheet of sandpaper, a sheet of plain paper and a hermetically sealed jar.
Removing mercury using copper wire
Since mercury evaporates for a long time, and at high air temperatures it also evaporates intensely, before you start cleaning, it is advisable to protect the respiratory tract with a gauze bandage.
Then we take the wire and wind it so that we get a rope about 1.5 cm wide and 15 cm long. To prevent it from falling apart during the cleaning process, we tie it in the middle with thread or a small piece of the wire itself. We cut off the ends on both sides so that they look like brushes. Using sandpaper, remove all the varnish and bend the bundle in half. As a result, both ends should be on the same side.
We make several turns of tape around the loop. This will make it much more convenient for you to hold the resulting brush in your hand. Then use your fingers to slightly open the cleaned area and bring it to the mercury balls. The copper will begin to amalgamate the metal particles, and soon they will all end up at its ends. Upon completion of the procedure, you need to put everything in a jar (along with the wire) and close the lid tightly.
How to use metal filings for cleaning?
To do this, they should be scattered on the infected area and thoroughly rubbed into the surface with a dry cloth. As a result, all the scattered particles of mercury will appear on it. We place them in a jar along with sawdust and seal it tightly.
This method of cleaning mercury is quite simple, but it is only suitable for smooth surfaces, for example, linoleum, plastic, marble, etc. For surfaces with cracks and grooves, a different method should be chosen.
Mercury on shag carpet
It is important to carry out thorough cleaning here, since mercury from a broken thermometer takes a long time to evaporate. If it is not all collected, toxic substances will continue to be released, gradually accumulating in the human body. At the same time, the symptoms of poisoning are not noticeable at first, but the consequences can be felt after a few weeks. And this, in turn, will make diagnosis very difficult.
It is most difficult to collect all the mercury from soft surfaces, especially if they have long piles. But you need to try, otherwise the carpet will simply have to be thrown away.
We pour metal filings in the place where the thermometer broke and roll up the carpet to this area. We wrap the area with mercury in polyethylene, carefully knock it out and leave it to ventilate. Place the fallen mercury balls together with the film into a jar and close it well.
Cleaning carpet without lint
It is much easier to remove mercury from such a coating than in the previous version. It is convenient to use a metal brush here, but you can also use a small syringe or syringe. Using the chosen tool, we collect all the droplets of the substance and pack everything hermetically.
What should you not do with mercury?
Sweeping mercury with a broom, especially from the carpet, is strictly prohibited. This way you will only break up the particles of the substance, expanding the volume of evaporation. You should also not vacuum the contaminated area, otherwise the warm motor will increase the rate of evaporation, and the vacuum cleaner itself will subsequently have to be thrown away.
If mercury balls get on things, they should be destroyed. Machine washing is prohibited, as it will not save clothes - they will become dangerous in the future.
It is not allowed to flush the collected substance down the sink or toilet, as it is heavy and will most likely remain in the water pipe. How long does it take for mercury to evaporate under such conditions? Both long and intense. Thus, you will be constantly exposed to toxic fumes.
Even if a jar containing particles of toxic metal has been carefully sealed, you should not throw it into a trash container or garbage disposal. Sooner or later it will break and other people will be in danger.
Where is mercury disposed of?
In general, if the mercury was level smooth surface or on a lint-free surface, it will not be difficult to assemble it. In addition to the above methods, you can use a sheet of plain paper. But what to do next with this jar if you can’t throw it away? Special organizations can help in this matter, such as:
- sanitary-epidemiological service;
- management of the Ministry of Emergency Situations;
- mercury recycling service.
You need to call one of them and take the jar with the collected mercury to the specified address. Just be sure to ensure that it was carefully packaged. By the way, it is also advisable to recycle the clothes and shoes you wore for cleaning. For this reason, mercury collection is carried out wearing gloves and a special suit.
If it was not possible to collect mercury
When a thermometer breaks, mercury particles often fly quite far. They can get to upholstered furniture, in places where clothes and other things are stored, roll under the baseboard or end up in the crevices of the floor. In such a situation, it is very difficult to collect every last drop. And only specialists can help here. Before the brigade arrives, you need to remove all people and pets from the contaminated room and open the window.
Upon arrival, special services workers will determine the level of mercury vapor concentration, conduct a thorough cleaning and identify items that will need to be disposed of.
Everyone knows well how dangerous mercury balls are since childhood. Severe poisoning, in some cases leading to disability and even death, is one of the possible consequences such intoxication.
But not in all cases does mercury actually pose a significant health threat. In this article you will learn when to be wary of it and what to do to minimize the risks.
Why is mercury dangerous?
Mercury belongs to substances of the 1st hazard class. When this metal enters the body, it tends to accumulate - 80% of inhaled vapors are not excreted. In acute poisoning, it can cause severe intoxication and death, if chronic - lead to severe disability. First of all, those organs that accumulate the substance best - the liver, kidneys, and brain - are affected. Therefore, dementia, kidney and liver failure are common results of mercury poisoning. When inhaling vapors, poisoning first affects the state of the respiratory system, later the central nervous system (CNS) and internal organs, and with prolonged exposure, all body systems gradually suffer. Mercury is especially dangerous for pregnant women, as it affects intrauterine development, and children.
However, such severe consequences are caused not by the metal itself, but by its vapors - they are the main danger in everyday life. Balls of mercury from a broken thermometer begin to evaporate already at a temperature of +18°C. Therefore, at home, where the air temperature is usually much higher, the substance evaporates quite actively.
Mercury compounds, such as methylmercury, are no less dangerous to the body. In 1956, mass poisoning caused by this particular compound was discovered in Japan. The Chisso company systematically released mercury into the bay from which the fishermen were catching fish. As a result, 35% of those poisoned by contaminated fish died. After this incident, such intoxications were called Minamata disease (after the name of the local city). In everyday life, people practically never encounter such severe poisoning.
Acute mercury poisoning is different pronounced signs. Characteristic symptoms include the following:
- Weakness.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Headache.
- Chest and abdominal pain.
- Diarrhea, sometimes with blood.
- Difficulty breathing, swelling of the mucous membranes.
- Salivation and metallic taste in the mouth.
- Increase in temperature (in some cases up to 40°C).
Symptoms of poisoning develop within several hours after exposure high concentration vapors or mercury compounds into the body. If during this time the victim does not receive qualified medical care, poisoning will lead to irreversible consequences. A person develops dysfunction of the central nervous system, damage to the brain, liver and kidneys, loss of vision, and with a large dose of a toxic substance, death can occur. Acute poisoning is extremely rare: more often in industrial accidents, in living conditions such a situation is practically impossible.
Mercurialism, or chronic mercury poisoning, is much more common. Mercury is odorless, so it is almost impossible to notice balls of the substance that, for example, have rolled under the baseboard, in the cracks between the floorboards, or remained in the carpet pile. But even the smallest drops continue to release deadly fumes. Since their concentration is insignificant, the symptoms are not so pronounced. At the same time, small doses throughout long period lead to severe consequences, because mercury has the ability to accumulate in the body.
Among the first characteristic signs:
- General weakness, fatigue.
- Drowsiness.
- Headache.
- Dizziness.
Long-term exposure to mercury vapor can lead to hypertension, atherosclerosis, brain and central nervous system damage, and increases the risk of tuberculosis and other lung damage. Suffering from mercury vapor poisoning thyroid, heart disease develops (including bradycardia and other rhythm disturbances). Unfortunately, the symptoms of mercurialism are initial stages poisonings are non-specific, so people often do not attach due importance to them.
In the event that a mercury thermometer breaks in the house or metal gets into open space from another source (such as a mercury lamp), it is important to ensure that the mercury is completely collected. It is also necessary to contact services that will help dispose of the substance - thrown into the trash container collected mercury poses no less a threat.
Of course, the main source of mercury vapor in domestic conditions is a mercury thermometer. On average, one thermometer contains up to 2 grams of mercury. This amount is not enough for severe poisoning (if the mercury is collected correctly and on time), but it is quite enough for mild and chronic intoxication. As a rule, special services of the Ministry of Emergency Situations do not respond to domestic calls, but they will provide advice on a specific case. In addition, they will tell you where to donate the collected metal.
A large drop of mercury and the same amount of metal in small balls will evaporate differently. Due to larger area surface, small droplets will release more dangerous vapors in a short period. Namely, they are often missed by people who independently eliminate the consequences of a broken thermometer.
The most dangerous situations:
- Metal got on upholstered furniture, children's toys, carpet, fabric slippers (it is impossible to completely collect mercury from such surfaces; things will have to be thrown away).
- Mercury for a long time was in a room with closed windows (this increases the concentration of vapors).
- Balls of mercury rolled across the heated floor (the evaporation rate increases).
- The floor is covered with parquet, laminate, wooden boards. In order to completely remove all mercury, you will need to remove the coating at the spill site - small balls easily roll into the cracks.
In addition to thermometers, mercury is contained in some devices, mercury discharge lamps and energy-saving fluorescent lamps. The amount of substance in the latter is quite small - no more than 70 mg of mercury. They pose a danger only if several lamps in the room have been broken. Fluorescent lamps must not be thrown into the trash container; they must be taken to special centers recycling.
The dangers of mercury are often discussed in the context of vaccinations. Indeed, its compound thimerosal (merthiolate) has been used as a preservative in many vaccines. Back in the 20s of the twentieth century, concentration was quite dangerous; since the 1980s, its content in one dose does not exceed 50 mcg. The half-life of mercury compounds in this amount is about 4 days, even in infants, and after 30 days the substance is completely eliminated from the body.
Despite this, today most vaccines do not contain merthiolate at all. This is connected not so much with the danger of the preservative, but with the scandal that began 20 years ago. In 1998, the most prestigious medical journal Lancet published an article by researcher Andrew Wakefield, who linked vaccination (in particular, the thiomersal-containing MMR vaccine against measles, rubella, mumps) with the development of autism. The material caused heated discussions in the medical community and real panic among ordinary citizens. However, a few years later it was proven that Wakefield’s article was based on false data; it was not based on real facts, and the connection between autism and thiomersal has not been proven. A refutation of the material was published in the same Lancet journal. However, it is this article that is actively cited by representatives of the anti-vaccination movement. Today, vaccines produced in Europe and the United States do not contain merthiolate and therefore may not pose any risk of mercury poisoning.
Mercury may be found in small quantities in sea fish and seafood. Hit significant quantities metal in food usually causes mild intoxication, the consequences of which are easy to eliminate. First aid for such poisoning is simple - you need to induce vomiting, and then take a few tablets activated carbon or take any other sorbent. After this, be sure to consult a doctor. This is especially important for pregnant women and children, since mercury poisoning poses the greatest danger to them.
Symptoms of mercury intoxication:
- Nausea.
- Dizziness.
- Noticeable iron taste in the mouth.
- Swelling of the mucous membranes.
- Dyspnea.
If a thermometer breaks in the house, do not panic - quickly taken measures will help avoid negative consequences. Pharmacies sell special kits for demercurization, but you can collect mercury without them.
Ventilation and reduction of air temperature
Open window will help reduce the concentration of mercury vapor. It is advisable not to enter the room where the thermometer broke for a few more days, and keep the windows there constantly open. In winter, you should turn off the heated floor and tighten the radiators - the lower the temperature in the room, the less mercury evaporates.
- Mercury collection
For large drops you can use a syringe, for small drops - regular adhesive tape, plasticine, wet cotton. Before cleaning, shine a lamp on the place of the broken thermometer - this way everything will be visible, even the smallest balls. Mercury is collected using gloves, shoe covers and a respirator, only in a sealed container (plastic or glass container). All objects on which mercury has come into contact, including what it was collected with, are also placed in an airtight container.
- Treating the area where mercury was spilled
Surfaces are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate or a chlorine-containing preparation (for example, “Belizna” in a concentration of 1 liter per 8 liters of water). Leave the floor and surfaces for 15 minutes, then rinse off clean water. The final stage is treating the floor with potassium permanganate (1 g of potassium permanganate per 8 liters of water). As a result, mercury compounds are formed that do not produce vapor.
- What is prohibited
Do not collect mercury with a broom, mop or vacuum cleaner. You should also not wash contaminated clothes, slippers, or soft toys - the substance is difficult to wash off, and it may remain in the washing machine mechanism. All items that have been exposed to mercury must be disposed of.
- How to help yourself
The person who collected the mercury should wash their hands well after the procedure, rinse their mouth, and brush their teeth. You can drink 2-3 tablets of activated carbon. Gloves, shoe covers and clothing that have been exposed to mercury must be disposed of.
Update: October 2018
Mercury poisoning is one of the serious intoxications of the human body, which leaves a number of negative consequences for health. This state adults and children are afraid, especially panicking when household items break mercury thermometers. In this article we will look at the symptoms of chronic and acute mercury poisoning and under what circumstances it can actually occur.
Characteristics of mercury
Mercury is a substance of the first class of danger. It is a transition metal, which is a silvery-white liquid with a heavy mass, the vapors of which are very toxic (at the usual temperature of living quarters).
Metallic mercury as such does not provide toxic effects on the body. But vapors and soluble (especially organic) mercury compounds are very toxic - they are classified as cumulative poisons.
Even in small quantities, mercury can cause significant health problems. Has a toxic effect on the digestive, nervous and immune system, kidneys, liver, lungs, skin and eyes. Therefore, in case of mercury poisoning, symptoms are associated with dysfunction of these systems and organs of the body.
Despite this, mercury is widely used in manufacturing and industry. The most famous mercury object is a thermometer with a “silver” center, which many people use to measure body temperature.
Poisonings that occur as a result of breaking household mercury thermometers are extremely rare and can occur in families that completely neglect safety rules or often break thermometers without further demercurization. If mercury poisoning occurs from a thermometer, the symptoms will most likely be chronic.
Acute mercury poisoning is possible due to accidental breakdown large quantities fluorescent lamps (see).
Where can a person encounter mercury in everyday life?
Despite this danger of the metal, it is not so easy to come across mercury, especially in such quantities as to cause serious pathologies.
Thus, in order to be poisoned by mercury, you still need to look for it! This is what some inquisitive people do, bringing home or into the garage unknown devices or devices that can be a source of dangerous mercury vapor.
Sometimes, extremely rarely, chronic mercury poisoning is found in people who once upon a time bought a secondary home, in the cracks of the floors and walls of which there was mercury that inexplicably got there.
In all this, you should be especially vigilant - if a “domestic disaster” has already occurred - a thermometer or a mercury lamp has broken (see. detailed instructions- ), you should perform a series simple actions, which will protect you, your loved ones and pets from mercury poisoning.
Specific effect of mercury vapor on the human body
Inhalation of air with mercury vapor in concentrations up to 0.25 mg/m³ leads to the accumulation of metal in lung tissue. With more high level mercury can be absorbed through intact skin. Depending on the duration of mercury ingestion into the body and the amount of metal ingested, acute and chronic poisoning occurs. Micromercurialism is included in a separate category.
Symptoms of mercury vapor poisoning
Acute poisoning
The first manifestations are observed a couple of hours after direct poisoning:
- general weakness;
- headache;
- lack of appetite;
- pain when trying to swallow something;
- metallic taste;
- salivation;
- bleeding and swelling of the gums;
- nausea;
- vomit.
A little later there are:
- Very severe pain in the abdomen, mucous diarrhea with blood,
- cough and shortness of breath - inflammation of the lung tissue, catarrh occurs respiratory tract, chest pain, severe chills
- characteristic rise in body temperature to 38-40 °C.
- When examined, mercury is detected in the urine.
Symptoms of mercury poisoning are the same in adults and children. Only in a child the symptoms develop faster, clinical picture brighter, and help is needed immediately!
Chronic poisoning
Mercurialism is general poisoning due to chronic exposure to mercury vapors and compounds, far exceeding standards, for 2-5 months or years. Manifestations depend on the state of the body and nervous system:
- increased fatigue;
- causeless drowsiness;
- general weakness;
- dizziness;
- migraine;
- emotional disorders: self-doubt, shyness, depression, irritability.
There is a loss of self-control and weakening of memory, decreased attention. A bright characteristic symptom gradually develops - “mercury tremor” of the fingers and toes, lips, eyelids, which occurs with excitement. There is a urge to defecate and urinate, a decrease in the sense of smell, tactile sensitivity, taste, and increased sweating. The thyroid gland is significantly enlarged and malfunctions are noted heart rate, pressure drop.
Micromercurialism- chronic poisoning with the symptoms described above, which occurs with constant exposure to small amounts of mercury for many (5-10 or more) years.
Consequences of mercury poisoning
- In the absence of timely assistance, acute mercury poisoning can result in death.
- People with chronic mercury intoxication are unable to familiar image life, become psychologically disabled.
- Mercury poses a particular danger to pregnant women, since there is a high risk of developing intrauterine pathology.
Is it possible to detect excess mercury vapor concentrations indoors?
Of course, after any situation that carries the risk of exceeding the maximum permissible concentration of mercury in the air, an accredited laboratory should be invited and measurements should be taken (the standard is no more than 0.0003 mg/m³).
There are also household tests that help to roughly assess the concentration of mercury in indoor air (paper impregnated with selenium sulfide or copper monodide), which allows you to find out after 8-10 hours of observation whether the MPC is exceeded. They can be purchased in the countries of the post-Soviet space estimated cost about 150 rub.
Treatment
Acute poisoning is treated only in hospitals, comprehensively and differentiated, taking into account the lesions. Chronic poisoning mercury can be treated in a hospital, require sanatorium treatment and transfer to another job. Specific drugs are used for treatment: Unithiol, Methionine, Taurine, Dimercaptosuccinic acid, etc.
Prevention
- If a thermometer or fluorescent lamp accidentally breaks, carry out the entire range of necessary measures to eliminate the accident.
- People employed in professions that involve contact with mercury are advised to rinse their mouths with a solution of potassium permanganate or potassium chlorate during their shift and after work.
- In case of poisoning with mercury salts, the adsorbent is raw egg white– several proteins should be taken orally.
Mercury is classified as heavy metal, and is a rather dangerous substance that can cause serious poisoning in humans. What is its danger, and under what circumstances can mercury intoxication occur?
Today this metal is widely used both in chemical production and in everyday life. This is a strong toxic substance that can actively evaporate and form toxic fumes. Due to these properties, mercury cannot but pose a threat to human health, regardless of whether it is in any compounds or in its pure form.
Poisoning with a hazardous substance at home
In everyday life, it is found quite often in familiar and familiar household items. These can be mercury lamps, energy-saving and heating devices based on mercury and zinc. But the conversation will focus on the mercury thermometer, familiar from childhood, which we use in moments of illness to measure body temperature. Mercury vapor poisoning with this a small amount it in the measuring device? It turns out it is possible.
The substance poses the greatest danger at those moments when it evaporates. Our body is affected by toxic mercury vapor when inhaled along with the air, as well as exposed parts of the body through the skin. This happens provided that the concentration of mercury vapor is above 0.25 mg/cub.m.
Poisoning by mercury vapor through penetration through the epidermis occurs slowly; penetration of toxic metal particles through mucous membranes or by entering the esophagus is much more dangerous. Here, the first and main blow falls on the liver. One of the most severe options is direct absorption into the blood or direct inhalation of heavy vapors.
Toxic dose for mercury poisoning from a thermometer
Poisoning with a dangerous poison can occur with a certain amount of the substance. Considering the fairly frequent contact with this measuring device, especially if there are children in the house, you should know whether mercury vapor poisoning can occur from a small dose in a thermometer.
There is absolutely clear information on this matter. The amount of mercury in one thermometer is about two grams. Lethal dose for a person with direct entry into the body - half of this amount.
Naturally, age and body weight play an important role. In case of mercury poisoning, the size of the room in which the incident occurred, as well as the speed of response on the part of the victim or people nearby, is important. These factors can be dominant and directly influence the severity of poisoning. But, if we talk about the probability of damage to the body by a toxic substance from a thermometer, without taking appropriate measures, it is almost 100%. Proof of this is the indisputable facts - the average toxic dose of mercury is only 0.4 mg.
Signs of mercury poisoning
The course of poisoning can be:
- acute, when a person has inhaled harmful fumes;
- chronic, with prolonged and slow poisoning.
About acute course we can say that it relates more to industrial situations, and more often occurs in enterprises where a toxic substance is used. But mercury poisoning at home is a chronic damage to the body.
Symptoms of mercury poisoning broken thermometer may be the following:
- First of all, the nervous system reacts. This can be seen in a person’s weakness, fatigue, dizziness, desire to lie down, drowsiness, memory loss and irritable behavior. There may be a characteristic tremor or trembling of the fingers (in case of severe poisoning and the whole body), often convulsive manifestations. The temperature is elevated and arterial pressure falls. There is increased sweating. IN special cases when intoxication severe form, fainting and even coma are possible.
- There are also symptoms of mercury poisoning from the digestive system. Attacks of nausea and vomiting, manifestations of diarrhea and a clearly defined taste in the mouth. In case of severe poisoning, mucous lesions are observed in the oral cavity and stomatitis may develop, accompanied by painful sensations, bleeding gums and active secretion of saliva. Ulcerative manifestations in the stomach, esophageal canal and intestines can be provoked. The most specific signs are visible on the gums. They will turn bright red, and after certain time a dark coating will appear.
- Symptoms of mercury poisoning with a broken thermometer are also visible in the reaction respiratory organs. A specific non-infectious origin bronchitis and pneumonic symptoms. Sometimes a person begins to cough up blood, and in case of serious poisoning, pulmonary edema is possible.
- The kidneys and liver also suffer from intoxication with prolonged exposure. The inability to remove metal provokes a chronic form in parenchymal organs and causes failure. And acute renal and liver failure can threaten a person with death.
- For pregnant women, such negative intoxication phenomena can threaten miscarriage.
Is it possible to be poisoned by mercury and not feel it? Yes, but as the poison continues to attack the body, the symptoms of poisoning become more noticeable and obvious. But, the classical and traditional symptoms are described above. As a rule, in practical situations, symptoms are associated with a number of different factors: the state of health of the person at the time of poisoning, his immunity, age indicators and much more. In any case, if there is evidence of poisoning, you should immediately take appropriate measures and consult a doctor.
Only a blood test can give a certain indicator of the presence of poison in the body. If the substance is more than 180 mcg/l, intoxication is evident.
What to do if poisoning occurs?
- If you are sure that it was mercury that caused the intoxication, immediately move away from the source of the poison. Open the windows or go out of the room onto the balcony or street;
- First aid can be rinsing all skin, as well as the mucous membranes of organs that can absorb poison, such as the nose, mouth, eyes. It is good if a small amount of manganese is added to the water. All these measures are carried out first, but only if there are no changes in breathing and heart function. When there is a threat to life, resuscitation should be done;
- Among the main measures to neutralize the body from poison, gastric lavage is important. It is carried out using the probe method cold water with special substances in order to reduce the effects of mercury and limit its cauterization inside the stomach. Similar procedures are performed several times a day, and the patient must consume sorbents up to four times a day;
- The patient is given IVs for intravenous administration Unithiola;
- further treatment involves diuretics to remove poison from the body, intramuscular injection Unithiola;
- for symptoms of other diseases, appropriate therapy is prescribed;
- most commonly used medical supplies, promoting the removal of poison from the body: succimer, taurine, allithiamin, methionine.
Necessary Precautions
To prevent such an emergency from happening, precautions should be taken not only with respect to the thermometer, but also with other devices containing mercury. In families with small children, caution should be elevated to the level of unquestioningness. For parents and everyone who continues to use mercury thermometers, there are several important rules:
- Never store thermometers without a special plastic case. They are usually sold with a measuring device;
- You should not give a thermometer to children; to measure the temperature, you should be close to the sick child and monitor it;
- The device must be stored in a specific place where Small child won't be able to penetrate. As a rule, this is a home first aid kit and should only be kept out of the reach of children;
- do not leave the thermometer anywhere, accidentally touching or crushing it, you will provoke a serious situation that can have the most negative consequences;
- If the thermometer is broken, immediately try to isolate it by carefully collecting all the leaked substance. Use rubber gloves for your hands and shoe covers for your feet. You should put a gauze bandage on your face, first moistening it with water. To easily collect small drops, use tape or adhesive tape. If mercury has rolled into hard-to-reach places, you should use a syringe. All found droplets are placed in a jar of water. If items come into contact with a hazardous substance in any way, discard them. The floor or surfaces touched by the poison must be wiped aqueous solution with potassium permanganate or bleach;
- You cannot throw away mercury-containing devices with household waste. This may endanger the health and lives of others. There are special containers for recycling mercury. If there are none nearby, you need to place the broken remains of the device and mercury balls in a tight bag and take them to places where the toxic substance is disposed of. The correct decision would be to call the Ministry of Emergency Situations;
- Do not vacuum up hazardous substances or throw them down the drain. The first will turn against you, since mercury will not disappear from the room, and the second can provoke mass poisoning if it ends up in a body of water.
Mercury thermometers are very convenient and easy-to-use devices, and they are also accurate. Being the most popular and economical medical gadgets, they are in great demand and are truly “people's gadgets”. For this reason, the rules of use must be strictly followed.
The consequences of intoxication can become very severe, and may go away in mild form. Scientists have not fully investigated the issue of mercury poisoning. Many of them believe that mercury most directly relates to the sad statistics associated with oncology and other serious disorders of the internal systems of the human body. Therefore, be vigilant and careful when using devices containing mercury and protect your children from this!