Mercury poisoning from the thermometer: symptoms, consequences, treatment

Mercury thermometers are still the simplest and most accurate means for measuring temperature. Alas, they have a significant drawback. If this device breaks, it is quite possible for chronic and even acute mercury poisoning from the thermometer. Symptoms and severity of the course will depend on several factors:

• Age and health status of persons exposed to poison. You can not contact mercury with pregnant women, the elderly after age 65, children under 18, and people suffering from liver, kidney, respiratory system diseases.
• The way of penetration of the poison into the body. Mercury is a liquid metal, therefore from the intestine it is almost not absorbed, passing through transit. The most dangerous are mercury vapor when inhaled.
• The dose of the substance and the time of its exposure.

When can I get mercury poisoned from a thermometer?

The most dangerous are mercury vapor from the thermometer. Poisoning of moderate severity can occur in the following cases:

• The room is hot - mercury evaporates quickly.
• The infected area has a small volume - a large concentration is obtained.
• Mercury from the thermometer hit the heating device. The sublimation temperature of this metal is about +40 degrees, so in case of contact with, for example, the heating radiator, mercury instantly passes into a gaseous state.

An easy degree of poisoning or chronic course of the disease is usually observed if the rules for collecting spilled mercury have been violated. Often this happens if the balls of metal quietly rolled under the furniture or under the plinth.

At high concentrations, mercury can be absorbed into the blood through the skin and mucous membranes.

Symptoms of acute poisoning

The effect of mercury on the body is manifested after inhaling the vapors of the metal and entering it into the blood. The poison affects the brain and causes toxic damage to the respiratory system. Mercury is excreted by the kidneys in an unchanged form, so severe disruptions in the urinary system develop, in the urine protein and blood are determined. Also, a significant amount of metal is released with saliva, which leads to inflammation of the gums. Such signs are characteristic if there was acute poisoning with mercury from a thermometer.

Symptoms of Chronic Poisoning

Chronic poisoning can be asymptomatic. In this case, there are increased fatigue, weakness, headaches, metallic taste in the mouth. If mercury poisoning has occurred from the thermometer, the symptoms form a classic triad:

• Bleeding gums,
• Fine trembling of limb muscles (tremor) ,
• Disorders of the brain: insomnia, fatigue, mental disorders, memory impairment.

Signs of mercury poisoning from the thermometer in severe cases:

• Pain in the chest, cough;
• Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting;
• Increased body temperature;
• Salivation, looseness of the gums, pain during swallowing.

In extreme cases, pneumonia develops, bloody diarrhea occurs and death occurs 2-3 days later.

If mercury poisoning has occurred from the thermometer, the symptoms are usually erased or appear only slightly, indicating an easy degree of damage. With long-term exposure to poison, the body may experience a decrease in skin sensitivity, sweating, frequent urination, menstrual irregularities in women, and an increase in the thyroid gland.

Treatment

To clarify the diagnosis, measure the mercury level in the room. Such poisonings are, as a rule, massive. If an average or severe mercury poisoning occurs from the thermometer, the treatment is performed in a hospital. Perform general measures for antitoxic therapy, prescribe supportive procedures and medications. Enter a specific antidote - sodium thiosulfate.

How to remove mercury without consequences?

If a thermometer is broken in the house, a number of measures are taken to prevent the harmful effects of mercury on the body:

1. Do not allow the spread of poison to other rooms. Mercury sticks to the sole of the shoe and metal surfaces.
2. Close the door to the room, open the ventilator for airing. Do not allow drafts, since mercury is a light substance and is carried by the flow of air.
3. Put rubber gloves on their hands, shoe covers on their feet. To protect the respiratory organs use a gauze bandage moistened in water.
4. The mercury pellets are driven by a sheet of paper and poured into a jar of cold water. Small drops can be collected with tape, sticking plaster or wet paper. From hard-to-reach places, mercury is sucked out with a syringe or syringe. The skirting boards are dismantled if necessary.
5. All the things that were contacted with mercury are put in a plastic bag and disposed of. The floor and other smooth surfaces are wiped with a solution of bleach or manganese.
6. The bank with mercury is handed over to the appropriate authorities (call the Ministry of Emergency Situations for clarification).

If the cleaning time is delayed, every 15 minutes, you should take a break and leave the contaminated area to fresh air.

In large cities, there are licensed companies that deal with the elimination of toxic pollution in living quarters.

What can not be done if a thermometer is broken?

The consequences of mercury poisoning from the thermometer will be minimal if the rules for the collection of toxic waste are observed. Categorically you can not do the following things.

• Collect mercury vacuum cleaner: the poison will boil to the metal parts and will infect all the rooms in the future.
• Sweep with a broom.
• Dispose of mercury in the garbage chute, drained into the sewage system: the contamination will remain for a long time, and it will be difficult to liquidate it.
• Wash contaminated with mercury things in the car or drain the water into a sink or toilet bowl. Things are better to throw out, if it is impossible to do for some reason - to take out for airing in the sun for a long time.

Proper actions to remove mercury from the broken thermometer will save you and your loved ones from poisoning. After all the manipulations, take 2-3 tablets of activated charcoal, rinse the mouth with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, brush your teeth and drink more liquid. If you experience symptoms of mercury poisoning - nausea, headaches, inflammation of the gums, muscle tremor - contact your doctor.