Mercury - have you ever broken a thermometer?

Almost three years ago I broke a mercury thermometer in my kitchen - I was shaking it down and it hit the corner of the counter of my kitchen desk and needless to say it went everywhere. DH picked it up (the stinking thing went in a ton of little balls!) according to poison control directives yet it still bothers me sometimes. I feel my house is contaminated if you know what I mean To make matters worse I was pregnant at the time... I almost had a panick attack. My two year old is totally normal, happy and smart yet it still bothers me!!!

Anyway wondering if I am the only one that had an accident with a thermometer. When I was little we had SEVERAL breaking in the house (our house was 100% tile) and I used to even play with the balls! UGHHHHHHH I will confess that I broke one or two on purpose! My husband remembers doing the same - even playing with some in his friends house in the carpet - at least we had tile in the house (easier to clean!) Back then nobody thought anything about

I don't think there is any problem with the organic mercury from a thermometer鈥攅ven if you had swallowed it. You have picked it up and disposed of it. Inhaling the fumes of large quantities of mercury over a long period of time can cause lung and kidney problems. I'm sure your home has had much more than adequate ventilation over he last three years and the amount of mercury was minimal.

My friends and I, when children, played a lot with "quick silver'' (mainly from broken thermometers) and suffered no ill effects beyond ruining a few pieces of jewelry and getting punished by our parents.

Most problems are from chronic exposure to mercury fumes and mercury compounds (mercury was used in making hats and was depicted in Alice in Wonderland by the Mad Hatter).

I think if you have no symptoms, you should stop worrying about it. The worry is more toxic than the mercury, and, if you remain obsessed with it, you ought to speak with a therapist for a few sessions.

I'm sure that you know there are many electronic thermometers available today.

NO..NO..

Liquid mercury is not harmful. I played with it ofter as a child. It is insoluble in that form.

Yes as a kid,many times .

My belief is that mercury has to be ingested to be harmful but I don't know how much would cause harm. If others answer this question, then I also can learn more.

its HARMLESS,just a small amount will not affect your health,Mercury is SAFE in small level like the one contained in the thermometer.

I am glad those thermometers are gone. We broke a few at home and don't miss them. If you cleaned it up that is good. Few places got that. Unless there were many dropped in a short time, the kid should remain fine.

Yes.

According to J.A.M.A the mercury they used to use in thermometers can be potentially dangerous, however, with the tiny amount you had in that item, and no direct exposure, (broken skin, continued exposure) you have no worry, it is more likely it dispersed into the tile grout, or simply absorbed into inert matter (dust, fuzz, etc..) and is long gone from your home.

not enough mercury in the thermometer to do any harm its larger amounts u have to worry about

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has issued the following
information regarding the danger of mercury poisioning from breaking a
thermometer. The information is contained on one of their web pages at
http://www.
epa.gov/grtlakes/bnsdocs/hg/thermfaq.h...


Does a broken fever thermometer really pose a health risk to the consumer?

Breaking one fever thermometer is unlikely to threaten the health
of the consumer in most circumstances, but under some conditions, the
mercury from a fever thermometer can seriously harm the consumer and his or
her family. If the consumer either fails to clean up mercury because he or
she is unaware that it has broken or because it is difficult to gain access
to the mercury (for instance because it has seeped through a carpet), then
all of the mercury will eventually volatilize and could reach dangerous
levels in indoor air. Moreover, if the consumer attempts to clean up a
mercury spill with a vacuum cleaner, of if the mercury is heated for some
reason, the mercury will vaporize quickly, increasing the risk. The
danger of significant mercury exposure is greatest in a small,
poorly-ventilated room.

The medical literature contains several cases of serious illness
and even death resulting from exposure to mercury from fever thermometers.
Most, but not all, of these cases involve young children, who are known to
be most susceptible to the effects of mercury.


The same web page also contains the following information regarding the
name of an individual at the EPA who can be contacted if you have
additional questions.
Contact: Alexis Cain, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5 (back
to Top)

(312) 886-7018
cain.alexis@epa.gov

I hope that this answers your question.