NationStates Jolt Archive

Our thermostat broke and had about a quarter of a milliliter of mercury in it. Half of which dropped out apparently. I told my dad and he said to vacuum it up. I berated him for suggesting the biggest no-no with mercury cleanup and then went to work using what methods I could to clean up what I could. The mercury has spread into many little balls across a small area of the carpet. I was able to pick up maybe half with duct tape, but the rest is still there. My dad insists it's not worth worrying about, but I'm pretty damn sure as little as a microliter can do damage to you. He claims the amount there couldn't hurt a mouse.

I want to get a mercury cleanup kit, but I'm doubtful he'd be interested so I'd have to wait for tomorrow when he's not here. It's been out in the air for a few days at least and I discovered the leak last night. So what can I do? I know sulfur can help by reacting to form a much less poisonous, if at all, compound, but who keeps sulfur around...

calm down dear, as long as your not actively sucking the delicious nectar from the thermometer you will do fine

do you also get these scares with tuna?

http://earth1.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm#thermometer

Actually, I hear liquid mercury is used sometimes to treat stomach problems. And I also heard that it's the vapors, and not the liquid itself, that is harmful.

*is not doctor/chemist/human*

Be calm, don't panic.

There's really not enough mercury in a thermometer to do any real harm. You would have to have years of continued exposure to the fumes before problems started to appear. (My daughter, the public health officer, is my source for this information).

When I was a kid (sometime B.C.E.) my father would take mercury from broken thermometers and rub it into pennies, turning them silver. I thought it was kind of cool.

However, getting a cleanup kit is probably a good notion because you don't want to add to the cumulative mercury buildup in the water table.

I know sulfur can help by reacting to form a much less poisonous, if at all, compound, but who keeps sulfur around...
People who make a lot of stink bombs?

calm down dear, as long as your not actively sucking the delicious nectar from the thermometer you will do fine

do you also get these scares with tuna?
Nay. It vaporizes slowly over time and then gets stuck in the air which we breathe and 50 years from now i'll have cancer.

I don't eat fish. Not because of mercury though.

Actually, I hear liquid mercury is used sometimes to treat stomach problems. And I also heard that it's the vapors, and not the liquid itself, that is harmful.

*is not doctor/chemist/human*
Aye. 'Tis the vapor that is most harmful, but ingesting it is also bad. I think what you are referring to is part of pre-modern medicine that also involved blood-letting.

Nay. It vaporizes slowly over time and then gets stuck in the air which we breathe and 50 years from now i'll have cancer.

I don't eat fish. Not because of mercury though.


Aye. 'Tis the vapor that is most harmful, but ingesting it is also bad. I think what you are referring to is part of pre-modern medicine that also involved blood-letting.

it cured some STDs, that today require antibiotics. they inject you with mercury until your teeth and hair fell out, and bam the STD likely had been taken care of. And even if it had not you likely weren't getting laid again so it wont spread. it is about on the level of our cancer treatments today, yeah the stuff will kill bacteria but by god it will kill you too.

also a good way in ancient times to kill your lover. drop mercury in the ear of a sleeping person and it will soak in the ear canal and leave no evidence come morning, except the corpse.

also a good way in ancient times to kill your lover. drop mercury in the ear of a sleeping person and it will soak in the ear canal and leave no evidence come morning, except the corpse.

Great. Now I'm *paranoid.

*More paranoid.

in modern times they notice the mercury in the body during the autopsy.
*waves hands wildly*
Hardly a comfort!

Great. Now I'm *paranoid.

*More paranoid.

in modern times they notice the mercury in the body during the autopsy.

*waves hands wildly*
Hardly a comfort!

if it is still that much of a worry just sleep on your back. cant put it in your ear unless your on your side.

People who make a lot of stink bombs?

<.<

>.>

also a good way in ancient times to kill your lover. drop mercury in the ear of a sleeping person and it will soak in the ear canal and leave no evidence come morning, except the corpse.
Is that how King Hamlet was killed?