Mercury is a very heavy liquid metal element, silvery in
color and is a liquid at room temperature.
Mercury will slowly evaporate at room temperature and these vapors are
invisible, odorless, and, at high levels, very toxic. Mercury vapors can harm the nervous system,
cardiovascular system, digestive tract, kidneys. To find mercury in everyday life one has to
look no further than thermometers, barometers, electrical switches, and
thermostats. Once mercury is no longer
contained or once it spills it will bead up and spread rapidly. The amount of vapor mercury produces is
related to the amount spilled, surface area (amount of beads produced),
temperature (vapors increase with warmer air), air flow and physical
disturbance of the spilled material.
Mercury spills can be very serious and must be handled
promptly as well as properly. Cleanup is
important, but what is equally important is WHAT NOT to do when cleaning
mercury. When cleaning up a minor
mercury spill from a broken thermometer, remember to never
attempt to vacuum up the mercury.
Vacuuming will further disrupt the mercury turning it into vapor and
releasing it back into the air, increasing exposure. To gather the beads up after a spill, never
use a broom. A broom can once again
break the mercury down into smaller pieces and release harmful vapors. The EPA recommends a squeegee or piece of
cardboard to gently and slowly gather the beads together. Never pour mercury down a drain to dispose of
it. Mercury can become lodged in the
plumbing and cause future problems.
Furthermore, if the mercury is discharged it can lead to pollution of
the septic tank as well as the sewage treatment facility. If mercury comes in contact with any shoes or
clothes during clean up there is no cleaning them; they must be disposed
of. Once mercury becomes dislodged in
the washing machine it can result in contaminating the entire machine as well
as polluting the sewage.
The proper way to clean a small scale mercury spill, like a
broken thermometer will require: gloves, paper towels, zip-lock bags, squeegee,
eyedropper and a few other optional supplies.
Be sure to always wear rubber, nitrile or latex glove before ever
handling mercury. If the spill contains
broken glass be sure to carefully pick it up and place in a paper towel then in
a zip-lock bag with a proper label according to local or state
regulations. After locating larger beads
use a squeegee or piece of cardboard to very gently sweep beads into a paper
towel, then again, into the zip-lock bag.
Remember that mercury can move quickly on flat surfaces so be sure to
check the entire room for visible beads.
An eyedropper can also be used to pick up small beads. For smaller, hard to see beads, a paint brush
topped with shaving cream or a piece of duct tape can be rolled through the
area to pick up any leftover hard to see mercury. If after all that there is still mercury
spilled, there is a commercially available sulfur powder which can make it easier
to clean. First, the sulfur will turn the mercury from a yellow to a brown,
making it easier to see. Also, the
sulfur will bind the element together to make a more thorough cleanup as well
as suppress the vapor. The sulfur can be
purchased in a mercury spill kit as a “mercury vapor absorbent”. If the kit cannot be found or if the
certainty is not enough of a guarantee, contact a contractor who can come and
monitor the mercury vapor with special equipment to make sure the threat is
gone.
For spills larger than a thermometer there are only a few
steps. First, make everyone leave the
area. Open all windows and doors to the
outside while closing all doors to the rest of the building. Turn down the temperature in the building and
call the local or state environmental agency.
If there is a spill greater than one pound the National
Response Center (NRC) must be notified immediately at 1-800-424-8802. It is also important to remember that mercury
is a very heavy dense substance and it only takes about 2 tablespoons to weigh
a pound.
No comments:
Post a Comment