If a thermometer breaks, mercury has health consequences. What to do if a thermometer is broken in an apartment? What happens if you swallow mercury

Probability of receiving mercury poisoning much higher than we might think. In fact, this can happen to anyone, because no one is immune from accidents. To do this, it is enough to handle the thermometer carelessly when measuring temperature during a cold, or, for example, break an energy-saving lamp. In this case, the amount of mercury vapor is enough to cause poisoning.

Mercury poisoning is considered one of the most dangerous:

• Mercury is one of the most dangerous air pollutants in the apartment;
• Mercury is highly hazardous due to the formation of toxic fumes;
• Mercury is widespread in everyday life and in various industries, i.e. the likelihood of poisoning with this substance is significant.

Symptoms of mercury poisoning

Early identification of symptoms will help you avoid harmful consequences for your health. After all, you may not know that there is mercury spilled in the room.

Deterioration in health due to mercury poisoning appears after about 8 hours. The person in greatest danger is the one who broke a thermometer, lamp, etc., or the one who collected mercury.

If you feel weak throughout your body, have a severe headache, vomit, experience symptoms, or get tired quickly, you should immediately consult a doctor. In addition, signs of mercury poisoning can include symptoms such as feeling unwell, which can be confused with another cause or disease without even thinking about a mercury cause.

Minor mercury poisoning.

This situation is typical for people who quickly leave the room after a thermometer or mercury lamp breaks. In good health, a person will not feel mercury poisoning from a thermometer at all; in other cases, there are feelings of fatigue, a craving for sleep, migraines, and apathy. During the day, the discomfort stops.

Severe cases of mercury vapor poisoning.

This situation is possible due to mercury vapor at work, or if you are not aware of the presence of mercury metal balls in the room.

With such poisoning, involuntary trembling of the hands is observed, the ability to perceive odors is impaired, tactile sensitivity is impaired, and a sharp decrease in blood pressure is possible. A craving for sleep appears, urination becomes much more frequent than normal, and women may experience menstrual irregularities.

Consequences of mercury poisoning

If you do not consult a doctor in a timely manner, your health condition may worsen significantly.

Symptoms of mercury vapor poisoning often develop into chronic liver pathologies, problems with the activity of the gallbladder, hypertension, vascular atherosclerosis and even tuberculosis may occur.

In case of serious poisoning, the victim may fall into a coma.

Safety rules for mercury vapor poisoning

At the first signs of poisoning by this metal, you should immediately call an ambulance. The victim needs to drink plenty of water. In case of any mercury poisoning, the appropriate regimen must be carefully followed. It is recommended to take it to remove toxins from the body. Polysorb is an enterosorbent indicated for acute poisoning with toxic substances. The powder has a large sorption capacity of ≥300 mg/g and begins to act within 1-4 minutes.

Moreover, you should start taking Polysorb as quickly as possible: in the first couple of hours after mercury poisoning. That is, the faster the drug gets into the gastrointestinal tract, the greater the amount of poisons it can remove, due to which they will not have time to spread throughout the body, and the symptoms of mercury poisoning will go away much faster.

Remember!

At treatment of vapor poisoning mercury, you should consult your doctor.

Even if you have the necessary medications, you will need specialist supervision, since mercury poisons can affect the functioning of many internal organs, and in addition to treating the consequences of poisoning, treatment of other organs, systems and tissues of the human body may be required. In addition, treatment of mercury poisoning in a hospital setting is much faster than at home.

How to prevent mercury poisoning from a thermometer?

Anyone can get mercury poisoning from a broken thermometer. But what to do in this case? How not to panic?

Children are at high risk. Therefore, it is very important to explain to the child that he will not be scolded for breaking a thermometer, but it can be very dangerous to health, so you need to immediately tell adults about it. Many children, fearing that a broken thermometer will cause a negative reaction from their parents, simply try to hide their tracks.

So, if you or your loved ones broke a thermometer, to prevent mercury poisoning from the thermometer, you need to do the following:

• remove all people and pets from the apartment to the street;
• call the rescue service;
• if it is not possible to call the Ministry of Emergency Situations, then you can collect the mercury yourself, but you must carefully observe safety precautions, namely, wear rubber gloves, shoe covers, and a protective mask.
• mercury forms balls that are not easy to collect; to make the process easier, it is better to use tape or roll them onto a sheet of paper;
• mercury must be placed in a glass jar;
• if mercury balls are found on carpeting, bedding and other fabrics, they must be placed in a bag and handed over to rescue service representatives to avoid mercury poisoning;
• after removing mercury from the room, you need to clean it;
• It is also worth inviting emergency workers to use special equipment to check whether the air contains mercury vapor.

And remember, even in the event of an unpleasant incident, you should remain calm. The main thing is to detect spilled mercury in a timely manner and contact specialists.

You can purchase Polysorb at any pharmacy in your city. For your convenience, you can use the service apteka.ru, which will deliver the drug to a conveniently located pharmacy.

Read also:

Application of Polysorb

Indications

Why Polysorb MP?

Safety

Polysorb MP does not contain any additives or flavorings, so the drug does not have a toxic effect and does not cause allergies. The drug is not absorbed into the blood and does not pass through the liver and kidneys, due to which it has virtually no contraindications. Enterosorbent Polysorb MP is highly safe and is prescribed to children from birth and pregnant women.

Efficiency

The sorption surface of Polysorb MP for internal use is 300 m2/g, which is significantly higher than that of most enterosorbents available on the Russian and foreign markets. The drug is able to bind any harmful substances.

Instantaneity

During treatment, the first minutes of illness play a special role, when it is necessary to quickly provide assistance to the victim, relieve intoxication, and improve overall well-being. Here Polysorb MP comes to the rescue again, which, thanks to its unique spatial structure, begins to act immediately after entering the intestines and is able to radically change the situation in a matter of moments.

Operating principle

Harmful substances such as allergens, toxins and all kinds of pathogenic bacteria provoke the development of diseases and a general deterioration in well-being;

Polysorb, entering the intestines, surrounds harmful bacteria and removes them from the body;

Polysorb absorbs toxins and allergens of different sizes, which makes it possible to cope with various poisonings and allergies equally effectively;

Instructions

Directions for use and doses

Indications for use

pharmachologic effect

Side effects and contraindications

Polysorb - dosage and method of application

Firstly, Polysorb is always taken in the form of an aqueous suspension, that is, the powder is mixed with 1/4 - 1/2 cup of water, and is never taken dry orally.

Secondly, the amount of powder to take depends on body weight, that is, you need to know the approximate weight of the adult or child who will drink it. There cannot be an overdose, which eliminates concerns when determining the dose.

Patient weight

1 heaped teaspoon of Polysorb contains 1 gram of the drug.
1 gram is the most recommended single pediatric dosage.
1 heaped tablespoon of Polysorb contains 2.5-3 grams of the drug.
3 grams is the average single adult dosage.

Method of use of Polysorb for main indications

Disease

Food allergies

Mode of application:
Reception features: During meals or immediately after
Number of receptions: 3 times a day
Duration: 10-14 days

Chronic allergies, urticaria, hay fever, atopy

Mode of application: Stir the powder depending on body weight in ¼-1/2 glass of water
Reception features: One hour before meals or one hour after meals
Number of receptions: 3 times a day
Duration: 10-14 days

Poisoning

Mode of application: Gastric lavage with 0.5-1% Polysorb solution (2-4 tablespoons per 1 liter of water)
Reception features: Next - oral administration of a suspension of Polysorb MP depending on body weight
Number of receptions: 3 times a day
Duration: 3-5 days

Intestinal infections

Mode of application: Stir the powder depending on body weight in ¼-1/2 glass of water: 1 day - take every hour. Day 2 – dose four times a day.
Reception features: Reception as part of complex treatment
Number of receptions: 3-4 times a day
Duration: 5-7 days

Viral hepatitis

Mode of application: From the first days of illness. Stir the powder depending on body weight in ¼-1/2 glass of water
Reception features: Reception as part of complex treatment
Number of receptions: 3-4 times a day
Duration: 7-10 days

Cleansing the body

Mode of application: Stir the powder depending on body weight in ¼-1/2 glass of water
Reception features: One hour before meals or one hour after meals
Number of receptions: 3 times a day
Duration: 7-14 days

Chronic renal failure

Mode of application: Stir the powder depending on body weight in ¼-1/2 glass of water
Reception features: Reception as part of complex treatment
Number of receptions: 3-4 times a day
Duration: 25-30 days

Toxicosis of pregnant women

Mode of application: Stir the powder depending on body weight in ¼-1/2 glass of water
Reception features: One hour before meals or one hour after meals
Number of receptions: 3 times a day
Duration: 10-14 days

Hangover

Mode of application: Day 1 – take 5 times a day every hour. Day 2 – take 4 times a day every hour.
Reception features: Drink more fluids
Number of receptions: 1 day – 5 times. Day 2 – 4 times.
Duration: 2 days

Polysorb is a modern sorbent with a wide spectrum of action that binds harmful substances and removes them from the body. Polysorb is used for diseases such as,. Polysorb is also used to remove toxins and harmful substances. Approved for use from birth.

If you have difficulty calculating your individual dose of Polysorb, you can getfree consultation by phone:8-800-100-19-89 , or in the sectionconsultations .

You can purchase Polysorb at any pharmacy in your city. For your convenience, you can use the serviceapteka.ru , which will deliver the drug to a conveniently located pharmacy.

Polysorb- a powerful new generation sorbent based on natural silicon, effective for the treatment of diarrhea, poisoning, allergies, toxicosis, hangover syndrome and for cleansing the body.

Indications for use:

Acute and chronic intoxications of various origins in adults and children;

Acute intestinal infections of any origin, including food poisoning, as well as diarrheal syndrome of non-infectious origin, dysbacteriosis (as part of complex therapy);

Purulent-septic diseases accompanied by severe intoxication;

Acute poisoning with potent and toxic substances, including drugs and alcohol, alkaloids, salts of heavy metals, etc.;

Food and drug allergies;

Viral hepatitis and other jaundices (hyperbilirubinemia);

Chronic renal failure (hyperazotemia);

Residents of environmentally unfavorable regions and workers of hazardous industries, for the purpose of prevention.

What are the main advantages of Polysorb?

The highest sorption surface among sorbents is 300 m2/g.

High safety profile - 18 years of experience in using Polysorb in Russia.

Instant speed of action immediately after entering the gastrointestinal tract, relief occurs 2-4 minutes after administration.

Prescribed to children from birth, pregnant and lactating women, elderly and adults.

Get consultation or check out the nearest In your city.

Shelf life: 5 years. Do not use after expiration date.

Storage conditions: At a temperature not higher than 25°C. After opening the package, store in a tightly closed container. The shelf life of the aqueous suspension is no more than 48 hours. Keep out of the reach of children.

Conditions for dispensing from pharmacies: Without a prescription.

Telephone free hotline for consultations:8-800-100-19-89

Polysorb- inorganic non-selective polyfunctional enterosorbent based on highly dispersed silica with particle sizes up to 0.09 mm and with the chemical formula SiO2.

Polysorbhas pronounced sorption and detoxification properties. In the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract the drugbinds and removes from the body endogenous and exogenous toxic substances of various nature, including pathogenic bacteria and bacterial toxins, antigens, food allergens, drugs and poisons, heavy metal salts, radionuclides, alcohol.

Polysorbalso absorbs some metabolic products of the body, incl. excess bilirubin, urea, cholesterol and lipid complexes, as well as metabolites responsible for the development of endogenous toxicosis.

Polysorb has pronounced sorption and detoxification properties. In the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract, the drug binds and removes harmful toxic substances from the body, including pathogenic bacteria and bacterial toxins, antigens, food allergens, drugs and poisons, heavy metal salts, radionuclides, alcohol. Polysorb, like a magnet, also attracts some metabolic products of the body, including excess bilirubin, urea, cholesterol and lipid complexes, as well as metabolic products responsible for the development of endogenous toxicosis. The drug is not broken down, not absorbed, and is excreted unchanged.

Compared with the old generation sorbent activated carbon, powder Polysorb– a new generation enterosorbent with a high speed of operation – action within 2-4 minutes after administration (no time is required to dissolve the tablets). 1 tablespoon of Polysorb powder replaces 120 tablets of activated carbon in terms of the volume of its sorption surface, envelops the gastrointestinal tract as thoroughly as possible and collects all harmful substances, accordingly, the quality of its work is much higher. In addition, drinking a small amount of powder with water is much more pleasant than swallowing dozens of tablets several times a day, which is why patients prefer an aqueous suspension of Polysorb. Over two decades, Polysorb has “settled” in every third family. Doctors know the drug well, thanks to its long experience of use in Russia and the CIS countries and the maximum qualities by which enterosorbent is evaluated.

Rarely- allergic reactions, dyspepsia, constipation. Long-term use of Polysorb for more than 14 days may impair the absorption of vitamins and calcium, and therefore prophylactic use of multivitamin preparations and calcium is recommended.

Interaction with other medications. The therapeutic effect of medications taken simultaneously may be reduced.

Contraindications: Polysorb 3 gram sachet Cans of 12, 25, 35, 50 grams

Bag3 grams– a single dose in a convenient pocket package.
Jar:
12 grams– the volume of the full course of treatment for the child.
25 grams– a necessary product in the home first aid kit for any occasion for the whole family.
35 grams– a three-day course for the treatment of diarrhea in an adult.
50 grams– a complete course of treatment for adults in economical packaging.

Mercury thermometers are used to determine body temperature and are an integral part of a home medicine cabinet. The advantage of the device is its high accuracy - up to 0.01 degrees. The downside is the toxicity of the liquid metal and its health hazard. Mercury poisoning from a thermometer is common in medical practice.

Mercury is very dangerous for the body

Routes of penetration of mercury from a thermometer

When producing a thermometer, mandatory hardening is carried out for 1 thousand hours. This makes the glass extremely resistant to impact, friction, and abrasion.

Therefore, mercury from a thermometer can enter the environment only if the thermometer is broken or through microcracks in the bulb. The probability of independent penetration of a substance through glass is zero, since the glass mass is an inert compound and does not react with liquid metal.

Liquid metal can penetrate the human body:

• through the skin;
• orally if swallowed;
• inhalation method.

Mercury quickly enters the body through the skin

The latter is the most dangerous, as mercury vapor from the lungs immediately enters the circulatory system. In this case, the liver does not have time to minimize the toxicity of mercury.

Symptoms of mercury poisoning with a broken thermometer

Symptoms of mercury poisoning can vary depending on the route the substance enters the body.

In everyday life, chronic poisoning most often occurs, since the acute form is possible only during an accident at a chemical enterprise.

Signs of mercury poisoning:

1. Nervous system – fatigue, headaches, trembling limbs, changes in body temperature. IN severe cases loss of consciousness and immersion in a coma are observed.
2. Digestive system – taste of metal in the mouth, drooling, development of stomatitis. There is pain in the epigastric region, ulcers may appear in the stomach and intestines. In severe cases, bleeding and perforation of the erosion site develops.
3. Respiratory system - inflammatory processes in the bronchi, pulmonary edema are observed. In severe cases, hemoptysis develops.

Mercury poisoning causes inflammation of the bronchi

Symptoms of mercury intoxication are similar to signs of poisoning with heavy metals and gases. A clear diagnostic sign is the result of a blood test for the presence of heavy metals. Normally, the blood should contain no more than 0.05 mcg of a toxic substance per 1 ml of biological fluid.

Toxic dose for humans

The toxic dose of a toxic substance depends on the individual characteristics of the person, the age of the victim, the route of entry of mercury into the body, and the duration of exposure to the poison. Separately, one should take into account the form in which the liquid metal was at the time it entered the body.

Table 1. Lethal doses of mercury

Chronic intoxication develops when the concentration of toxic metal vapors in the air is from 0.001 to 0.005 mg/m3. For acute inhalation injury, the MPC is 0.13–0.80 mg/m3.

What to do if you have mercury poisoning

There are clear algorithms for providing first aid and treating victims of intoxication with mercury and its compounds. They differ depending on how the toxic substance entered the body.

First aid

If the victim has inhaled mercury, he should be removed from the affected area. It is important to provide the patient with a constant supply of fresh air. Then lay or sit down, ensure peace and call an ambulance.

If accidental ingestion of a ball of heavy metal or its salts occurs, the contents of the stomach should be evacuated.

Method of flushing the gastrointestinal tract system:

• grind activated carbon at the rate of 1 g per 1 kg of body weight;
• mix with 2 liters of water;
• stir until a homogeneous suspension is formed;
• give the victim something to drink;
• press on the root of the tongue and induce vomiting.

After washing the stomach, give the victim milk or protein water - beat 2 egg whites with 1 liter of water - and take him to a medical facility.

Activated carbon is the first remedy for mercury poisoning

Treatment

Treatment of victims of contact with mercury vapors or compounds is a long and complex process. The decay and half-life of toxic metal metabolites ranges from 42 to 75 days.

In case of chronic and acute intoxication, treatment is carried out only at a medical institution. If the patient's condition improves after long-term micromercurization, the patient is transferred to outpatient observation after 3 weeks.

An acute process requires a longer period of stay in a medical institution. The course of therapy is determined individually for each patient.

Drug therapy involves the use of antidotes:

1. Unithiol – the use of a 5% solution at the rate of 50 mg per 10 kg of weight intravenously is indicated.

• first day – 3–4 infusions;
• second - 2-3 infusions;
• on days 3–7 – 1–2 infusions.

Unithiol is an antidote for intravenous administration.

In case of inhalation damage, the administration of unithiol using inhalation devices and nebulizers is effective. The duration of the course is at least 10 days. After some time it is repeated.

1. Calcium-disodium salt EDTA - for outpatient therapy - 0.5 g 3 times a day for the first 4 days, then the dosage is reduced.
2. Strizhevsky's antidote - for oral administration of a toxic metal and its compounds. This is an alkaline solution containing hydrogen sulfide in an amount of 0.5%. Just 100 g of antidote neutralizes 4 g of mercury.
3. Colon lavage with activated carbon.
4. General restoratives, vitamin complexes, antiallergic drugs.

Why is mercury from a thermometer dangerous?

Children are taught that mercury is a harmful compound at an early age. But many adults do not believe in the danger of a thermometer, since the amount of mercury there is insignificant.

Reasons for careful handling of the measuring instrument:

• small size - a microcrack may form on the glass, toxic metal vapors will have a negative effect for a long time;
• fluidity - small balls of sublimate easily pass into any cracks in boards or cracks in walls. Therefore, during demercurization of the premises, they are easy to miss;
• ability to accumulate in walls, wood.

In addition, a child can hide the fact that the thermometer has been damaged for fear of punishment.

It is extremely difficult to get acute poisoning from liquid metal fumes at home. Long-term chronic intoxication will be present.

The symptoms of such poisoning are similar to those of various diseases; they appear gradually and the victim does not associate the broken thermometer with his condition. And dying due to pathologies that developed against the background of long-term mercury intoxication is a very likely outcome.

Prevention

If the thermometer breaks, then do not panic. We need to minimize the consequences of this event.

Algorithm for mercury spills indoors:

1. The window is wide open - no matter the weather. The room should be cooled and ventilated. At low temperatures, mercury becomes less fluid and stops evaporating.
2. Avoid drafts. The metal balls are small in size. They can simply be blown away.
3. Change into shoes and clothes that you don’t mind throwing away. An ideal raincoat made of polyethylene. Put rubber gloves on your hands. Cover your face with a towel, gauze bandage moistened with water.
4. Prepare a solution of potassium permanganate at the rate of 2 g of potassium permanganate per 1 liter of water. Separate a small volume of the solution into a jar.
5. Prepare a soap solution for treating the floor.
6. Collect metal balls using a piece of paper. Remove the baseboard. Check all cracks and corners. Use a syringe to collect drops of mercury. Place all collected metal in a container with potassium permanganate.
7. Wash floors and furniture with the remaining permanganate solutions.
8. Then wash again with soapy water.
9. Shoes, clothes, gloves - we pack everything in plastic bags. Container with collected mercury, broken thermometer - go there. Tie tightly.
10. Contact emergency services. Specify the address where you can drop off your belongings and remaining equipment.
11. Wash thoroughly, rinse your mouth, and rinse your nasal passages. Take activated carbon at the rate of 1 g per 1 kg of body.

To collect mercury, call a special service

If it is impossible to collect the heavy metal in full, then demercurization specialists should be called. Carpets, other things, cushioned furniture after contact with mercuric chloride must be disposed of.

Do not do the following:

1. Use a vacuum cleaner to collect mercury. It will then either have to be disposed of or disinfected in a laboratory.
2. Dispose of the remains of the thermometer into garbage chutes, and flush the mercury down the drain.
3. Wash clothes in which you collected liquid metal.

And remember, your case is not unique. Don't panic, take all necessary steps to neutralize the area. If you cannot cope with your excitement, then call emergency services.

Update: October 2018

Mercury poisoning is one of the serious intoxications of the human body, which leaves a number of negative health consequences. Adults and children fear this condition, especially when they panic when household mercury thermometers break. 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, it does not have a toxic effect 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 systems, 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 when a large number of fluorescent lamps are accidentally broken (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 follow a number of simple steps that 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 at a concentration of up to 0.25 mg/m³ leads to the accumulation of the metal in the lung tissue. At higher levels, mercury is able to 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 abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea,
• cough and shortness of breath - inflammation of the lung tissue, catarrh of the respiratory tract, chest pain, severe chills are added
• 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, the clinical picture is clearer, and immediate help is required!

Chronic poisoning

Mercurialism is a general poisoning due to chronic exposure to mercury vapors and compounds, much exceeding the 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. Gradually, a bright characteristic symptom develops - “mercury tremor” of the fingers and toes, lips, eyelids, which occurs with excitement. There is a urge to defecate and urinate, a loss of sense of smell, tactile sensitivity, taste, sweating increases. The thyroid gland enlarges significantly, heart rhythm disturbances and a drop in blood pressure are noted.

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 cannot lead their usual lifestyle and 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 post-Soviet countries at an estimated cost of about 150 rubles.

Treatment

Acute poisoning is treated only in hospitals, comprehensively and differentiated, taking into account the lesions. Chronic mercury poisoning can be treated in a hospital, requiring 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 whites should be taken orally.

Why is mercury from a thermometer dangerous for humans? This is the question a person asks when faced with a deformed mercury thermometer. To measure accurate body temperature, thermometers using alcohol, glycerin, mercury, as well as electronic devices have become widespread.

As practice shows, mercury thermometers show the most accurate readings of body temperature, which is associated with the high thermal conductivity of mercury and the almost linear expansion coefficient of the metal.

Along with such an important advantage, mercury-based thermometers have a very harmful and even dangerous drawback - the toxicity of the substance and the ability to accumulate in the body, which can even lead to fatal cases of poisoning.

Features of a mercury thermometer

In home and even hospital settings, mercury thermometers are widely used, since they give an error of only 0.01°C. This error is achieved thanks to amazing properties liquid metal - mercury.

The characteristics of mercury are quite remarkable. The melting point of this chemical is only 38.8°C, which means that under normal conditions it is in liquid form. Like all metals, mercury in a thermometer expands when the temperature rises, and contracts when the temperature drops.

Also, liquid mercury does not have the ability to moisturize and remain on the glass from which thermometers are made. This makes it possible to achieve high precision measuring instruments by using glass tubes with a very small cross-section.

It is important to remember that mercury is nothing more than a highly toxic poison and belongs to the 1st class of very toxic substances.

The above properties make this metal indispensable in the manufacture of thermometers. However, mercury and any compounds with it are quite toxic and poisonous. Because of this reason, some countries have even abandoned the use of mercury-based thermometers.

Danger of a damaged mercury thermometer

If you handle a mercury thermometer correctly and carefully, if you store it in a place protected from children, in a special case, and use it only under adult supervision, such an instrument is not dangerous.

But in the case when a thermometer with mercury does break, both glass fragments and leaking mercury from the glass tube pose a danger to the human body. This substance is characterized by a very low melting point, which is not typical for other metals - 38.8°C, and it evaporates already at a temperature of +18°C.

It must be remembered that mercury evaporates both in the open air and under water.

Liquid mercury vapors are very toxic, since when inhaled, the vapors enter the lungs, then the mercury is oxidized and, in its oxidized state, negatively affects the condition of the body. The ions of the element, which are formed during the oxidation of the metal, are very poisonous.

The effect of leaked mercury from a thermometer on the human body

A mercury thermometer may contain 1 to 2 grams of dangerous liquid mercury. This volume of pure mercury outside the glass tube will be enough to poison the human body to varying degrees of severity. Symptoms of such poisoning may not immediately appear, since the metal is characterized by accumulation properties.

Depending on the duration of exposure and concentration of mercury, the following types of poisoning are distinguished:

• Chronic poisoning: with constant contact with metal, with long-term work in a closed room with a vapor concentration slightly exceeding the maximum permissible concentration. It is expressed by general weakness, severe unreasonable fatigue, headache, increased irritability and dizziness. It may appear after a couple of years.
• Acute poisoning: with a high concentration of the substance, it can occur in just 2-3 hours. It is expressed by a metallic taste, pain in the abdomen, head and when swallowing, as well as lack of appetite. Such poisoning is often accompanied by pneumonia.
• Micromercurialism: at very low concentrations of mercury, but over a long period of time from 5 to 10 years. It manifests itself in the form of prolonged respiratory diseases, increased bleeding of the gums, finger tremors, various disorders of the nervous system and cycle disorders in young women.

Mercury mainly enters the human body through toxic vapors through the lungs. When it comes to a large spill of mercury, intoxication can also occur through the mucous membranes and pores of the skin. Basically, metal has a detrimental effect on the nervous system, respiratory tract and kidneys.

If the substance enters the human body with food, then it does not have a significant effect, since almost all of it is excreted by the body through the intestines without absorption into the blood. The remaining part is excreted over a long period of time through the kidneys.

It must be remembered that mercury has a neurotoxic effect on the human body, which occurs in the form of destruction of nerve cells.

People with weakened immune systems, as well as young children and pregnant women are especially sensitive to the effects of vapors.

Prolonged penetration of small but dangerous doses of mercury into the body can trigger the onset of severe inflammatory processes in important organs and systems. In general, mercury vapor intoxication leads to pneumonia, paralysis and complete blindness.

Considering all aspects of the negative, it is necessary not only to identify signs of mercury exposure in a timely manner, to properly clean up and dispose of spills, but also to immediately provide emergency assistance.

How does mercury intoxication manifest?

Mercury accumulates in the body and is not eliminated from it. This is what chronic poisoning is associated with. What symptoms are observed?

• Prolonged and severe headaches.
• Metallic taste in mouth.
• Apathy, drowsiness and weakness.
• Tremor (shaking) of hands, nervous tic.
• Irritation and frequent mood swings.
• Sometimes diarrhea occurs.

If toxic mercury accumulates in the body for years, then performance, memory, and concentration gradually deteriorate, and mental illness occurs. Sometimes hair falls out, teeth become loose, and some diseases become chronic. Such symptoms appear after several years.

The problem of a broken thermometer becomes especially serious if there are small children at home. They are especially susceptible to poison, since the child’s body cannot fully resist it. If there is a small child in the family, an electronic thermometer is needed.

From a broken thermometer the following is observed:

• shortness of breath when breathing;
• disruption of the gastrointestinal tract;
• bluish tint to the face.

If these symptoms appear, you need to call an ambulance. Usually, gastric lavage is performed to remove mercury oxide and relieve signs of intoxication. If prompt medical attention is not forthcoming, you can induce vomiting yourself. According to statistics, in 65% of cases it is mild poisoning.

Help with intoxication

Mercury poisoning can only be treated in a hospital setting. Since mercury from a broken thermometer is very dangerous, first aid must be provided immediately at home. It consists of alleviating the condition of the poisoned person and consists of the following measures:

• organize the flow of fresh air into the room;
• rinse the stomach with a large volume of water;
• induce vomiting;
• apply activated carbon;
• provide plenty of fluids;
• provide the patient with bed rest.

The above measures should be carried out if the victim is fully conscious. When a person is unconscious, he must be quickly freed from constricting clothing and placed on his side. You should also prevent the tongue from sticking and ensure the supply of fresh air.

What to do if the thermometer accidentally breaks

If a mercury thermometer is damaged in a medical institution, at work or at home, you must call emergency services and follow the following recommendations:

• There is no need to panic, you should accurately determine that it was the mercury thermometer that broke and the location of such an incident.
• Remove all people and pets from the room where the device was damaged, except those who have mercury residues on their clothes or fur. This is how localization is carried out and the spread of spilled mercury to other rooms is prevented.
• Prevent people from entering a room that is poisoned with mercury.
• It is necessary to open the windows and close all doors to ensure the flow of fresh air and eliminate drafts that can carry mercury vapor into adjacent rooms.
• Wear shoe covers, rubber gloves, a respirator, or a moistened cotton-gauze bandage moistened with water or a strong soda solution to protect the respiratory system from the action of vapors.
• When collecting mercury balls, you must be extremely careful and do not step on glass fragments of the thermometer.
• After cleaning the mercury, you need to drink a lot of any liquid and eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• For preventive purposes, you should drink activated carbon in a therapeutic dosage.
• All collected mercury balls must be placed in a glass container with water, and then closed with a tight lid.
• All utensils and clothing that were used when collecting mercury should be placed in polyethylene and disposed of.

Work on collecting toxic metal must be carried out quickly, especially if the room is warm. Otherwise, the mercury will begin to evaporate and cause damage to the respiratory system.

Almost every home medicine cabinet contains a mercury thermometer. When used correctly, this attribute is completely safe for humans. If the thermometer accidentally breaks, do not panic; it is important to collect all the metal balls as soon as possible.

Living in a safe space

Why expose yourself and your loved ones to unnecessary risk? Today we are surrounded by many harmful substances with which we are saturated. modern world. There are safe electronic thermometers that accurately and quickly show body temperature.

The thermometer looks like a flat stick with a thin tip and a display on the body. He gives evidence within a minute after contact with the body. It will not break, is reliable and accurate. Duration of work: from 2 to 5 years. So mercury thermometers have already exhausted their usefulness and will soon disappear completely.

Therefore, when making a choice at a pharmacy, buying drugs or medical devices, read the instructions and inquire about their safety. AND stop buying a mercury thermometer. Take care of your health and the health of your loved ones and do not expose yourself to unnecessary risks.

Mercury is classified as a 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. Poisoning by mercury vapor with such a small amount 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. The lethal dose for humans upon direct entry into the body is 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 the 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 with a broken thermometer may be as follows:

1. 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 blood pressure drops. There is increased sweating. In special cases, when intoxication is severe, fainting and even coma are possible.
2. 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. With severe poisoning, mucous lesions are observed in the oral cavity and stomatitis may develop, accompanied by pain, bleeding of the 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 acquire a bright red color, and after a certain time a dark coating will appear.
3. Symptoms of mercury poisoning with a broken thermometer are also visible in the reaction of the respiratory organs. Specific, non-infectious bronchitis and pneumonic symptoms develop. Sometimes a person begins to cough up blood, and in case of serious poisoning, pulmonary edema is possible.
4. 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.
5. 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 a 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 the skin, as well as the mucous membranes of organs that can absorb poison, such as the nose, mouth, and 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 a cold water probe 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 placed on a drip for intravenous administration of Unithiol;
• further treatment involves diuretics to remove poison from the body, intramuscular administration of Unithiol;
• for symptoms of other diseases, appropriate therapy is prescribed;
• the most commonly used medications that help remove 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 certain place where a small child cannot enter. 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 with an aqueous solution of 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, or they can pass in a 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!