Remudamom Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I found two pieces on the floor. Does this mean I've got poisonous mercury all over my floor?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlifemom Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I guess so. I would be more concerned about the fact that I couldn't replace it. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 You would more likely have a bead or beads of mercury (it tends to clump together). I did read however that the amount of mercury in a thermometer is not enough to poison you. You would need to break an old fashioned blood pressure monitor (which has a lot more mercury) to do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plain jane Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 You would more likely have a bead or beads of mercury (it tends to clump together). I did read however that the amount of mercury in a thermometer is not enough to poison you. You would need to break an old fashioned blood pressure monitor (which has a lot more mercury) to do that. :iagree: Better to break one of those than one of the new CFL bulbs. :ack2::001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pajama Mama Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Are you sure it's mercury? Dh told me that our glass thermometer didn't have mercury. He didn't want any mercury ones so he bought a glass one with ? in it but it's not mercury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I found two pieces on the floor. Does this mean I've got poisonous mercury all over my floor?? Yes. Although the real danger is the mercury vapor. DON'T VACUUM. Clean up information here Some good information here: Special Report: Thousands of kids exposed to dangerous liquid mercury in schools, homes. Contamination can last years, and cleanups are costly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 If you see beads of liquid metal, silver coloured, that is mercury. If you don't see that, then it's alcohol and safer than the former. I used to play with mercury, so that explains some of my problems. Ya, seriously! It's the coolest stuff! Toxic, yes... but tres cool to plop together! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I guess so. I would be more concerned about the fact that I couldn't replace it. :D absolutely! I was so upset when my son broke mine! Those are THE accurate thermometers. I'd imagine a good vacuum would get it all up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 If you see beads of liquid metal, silver coloured, that is mercury. If you don't see that, then it's alcohol and safer than the former. I used to play with mercury, so that explains some of my problems. Ya, seriously! It's the coolest stuff! Toxic, yes... but tres cool to plop together! Me too! That was my favorite toy! Maybe that's why I forget my name sometimes? :tongue_smilie: As a kid I liked to bring 3 toys to school; my little plastic box of mercury that I'd swish around and watch it come apart, then blob together again; a plastic bag filled with water :001_huh::confused:, and a pet rock. Now the last one is dating me! But can you believe someone became a millionaire because of the morons who actually bought those pet rocks? Mine was a gift. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 (edited) I'd imagine a good vacuum would get it all up?NO!:scared: That will aerosolize it, which is the absolute worst thing you can do. Edited January 5, 2010 by Perry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Me too! That was my favorite toy! Maybe that's why I forget my name sometimes? :tongue_smilie: As a kid I liked to bring 3 toys to school; my little plastic box of mercury that I'd swish around and watch it come apart, then blob together again; a plastic bag filled with water :001_huh::confused:, and a pet rock. Now the last one is dating me! But can you believe someone became a millionaire because of the morons who actually bought those pet rocks? Mine was a gift. :tongue_smilie: BAHAHAAAA!!!! I knew I wasn't alone! I thought you were going to say your mercury was a gift, cuz mine was! From my dad! Who was Canada's lead foreman on supervising building codes for welding (read: he knew his metals!) but I love him and I love mercury and I love that I'm not alone. And I forget my name too sometimes. hee hee! :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 BAHAHAAAA!!!! I knew I wasn't alone! I thought you were going to say your mercury was a gift, cuz mine was! From my dad! Who was Canada's lead foreman on supervising building codes for welding (read: he knew his metals!) but I love him and I love mercury and I love that I'm not alone. And I forget my name too sometimes. hee hee! :tongue_smilie: I sure do hope you never let your father live that one down!!! I'd rib him over it at EVERY opportunity - and until his, or my, dying day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I sure do hope you never let your father live that one down!!! I'd rib him over it at EVERY opportunity - and until his, or my, dying day! Something to treasure, that's for sure! The memories, not the mercury :lol: that is looong gone... unfortunately... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 NO!:scared: That will aerosolize it, which is the absolute worst thing you can do. oh my! And I'm a homeschool mom! :scared: See what that mercury did to my brain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 Gah!! I vacuumed before I read this. I never did see any droplets though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Gah!! I vacuumed before I read this. I never did see any droplets though. Don't worry. It isn't the best to vacuum but really it isn't as much mercury as many other devices. And if you didn't see any droplets it might not have been mercury. Did it look like this? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_thermometer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 If the line inside the thermometer was red, there was no mercury. If it was, then there was and your should follow the info Perry link below. I don't event think that you can buy a mercury thermometer anymore so if it wasn't very old it probably wasn't mercury. As a child I loved to play with mercury which might explain all the problem I have now. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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