TundraAcademy Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 My 7yo broke an old mercury thermometer on the floor in his room. After calling poison control and searching the internet I still don't know what to do. I know mercury vaporizes and inhaling is the danger, but does anyone know for how long? I really don't want to cut a chunk out of the carpet and I was wondering if it would eventually dissipate if we just closed off the room for awhile? I remember breaking a thermometer as a kid and not doing a thing. I'm still alive today somehow! Anyone have experience with this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elizabeth Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/#thermometer This is what to do and I would not vary from these instructions one bit. This can be very, very dangerous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Well, I would cry. I played with mercury as a child but I do have health problems now so I can't say for sure that the mercury had nothing to do with it. You don;t want to vacuum and you can't just throw the remains away either. Honestly, I would cut up a large chunk of the carpet and take it to hazardous waste disposal and still be freaking out due to airborn particles. At the very least I would cover with a large piece of plastic and tape that down until I figured out what to do. I have scrap carpet leftovers that I could replace the carpet with so that wouldn't be a major concern for me. So sorry to hear this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 I remember playing w/ mercury as a kid, too. I would just vacuum it up. You can always take the vac. bag to hazardous waste disposal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 http://www.vtvets.org/pdf/broken_thermometer.pdf Wow! We played with mercury as kids; whenever a thermometer would get broken, we would play with the little beads of mercury. My brother even got some in his mouth once when he bit down on a thermometer and broke it. It never SEEMED dangerous. I remember the teacher in my 7th grade science class passing around a big bottle of mercury for us to hold -- very heavy -- and then I think she opened it and gave each of us a little bit to hold in our hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 I remember playing w/ mercury as a kid, too. I would just vacuum it up. You can always take the vac. bag to hazardous waste disposal. and not just the bag. Apparently, the vacuum cleaner will release mercury particles into the air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Aren't the newer thermometers made with something besides mercury? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TundraAcademy Posted September 23, 2009 Author Share Posted September 23, 2009 I know some are, but I don't think the one he had is a newer one. I wish so much I had found it before him! I got rid of several a few years ago (although I should have taken them to a hazardous waste disposal area as I've read now). Save yourself some misery and get rid of yours and get digital! We're thinking we need to cut a 1'x1' area out of our new carpet....ugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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