At present, the epidemic situation has not completely improved, so everyone will take their temperature from time to time, so some people will have thermometers at home. The most popular thermometer now is the mercury thermometer, but mercury is a dangerous thing, dwarfed by iridium-192?
The thermometer is made of glass, so it will break easily, and the mercury inside is a very dangerous liquid. After the mercury thermometer is broken, it is very dangerous, so what should I do if it is broken? First of all, it is necessary to open windows and ventilate, avoid staying in a confined space filled with mercury gas, then wear gloves to collect mercury scattered on the ground, and finally send the collected waste mercury to the environmental protection department or chemical department for treatment to avoid environmental pollution.
What about scattered mercury beads? Because mercury is volatile, after the mercury thermometer is broken, it is necessary to collect the scattered mercury in time. You can clean the mercury beads with cardboard and collect them in an airtight container. Remember not to throw it into the sewers! If mercury is scattered on the bed, remove the sheets, leave the quilt outside to dry, and open the window in time for ventilation. Sulfur powder can also be used, sprinkled on mercury will form mercury sulfide. At this time, it does not volatilize and will not be absorbed by the human body.
Mercury, also known as mercury, is a chemical element that is located at the eightieth position of the periodic table. It is the densest liquid in the world and the only metal in liquid form at room temperature and pressure. In the Middle Ages, it, along with sulfur and salt, was known as the sacred three elements of alchemy. Mercury can volatilize at room temperature, and mercury vapor is highly toxic, so mercury was included in the list of toxic and harmful water pollutants in 2019. If mercury accidentally seeps into groundwater, it can also contaminate groundwater and have a huge impact on the environment.
Does mercury in a thermometer poison people?
Although mercury is a highly toxic substance, the thermometer contains less mercury, only about 5 grams. Therefore, if only one thermometer is broken, the mercury inside will not poison people. However, because mercury evaporates easily at room temperature, it is necessary to open the window for ventilation often within two weeks after the thermometer is broken, so as to avoid the accumulation of toxins in the body and poisoning.
Children eat mercury by mistake, and the consequences are unimaginable?
In fact, it is not as serious as parents think. In fact, the mercury content in the thermometer is very small, and the mercury ingested by mistake will absorb less through the digestive tract, and it will not cause damage such as digestive tract perforation as parents worry.
Mercury, on the other hand, is a silvery-white liquid metal that exists in two forms, metallic mercury and ionic mercury. The chemical properties of mercury are not active. In particular, metallic mercury is difficult to lose electrons and react with other substances, and is insoluble in water. Even dilute hydrochloric acid, dilute sulfuric acid, and alkali do not chemically react with metallic mercury. Studies have shown that metallic mercury is rarely absorbed through the digestive tract. All thermometers are loaded with metallic mercury, not ionic mercury. Metallic mercury is extremely difficult to react chemically in the digestive tract and is generally unlikely to cause poisoning, let alone death.
Knowing the different chemical properties of metallic mercury and ionic mercury, there is no need to worry about mercury poisoning because your child bites the thermometer. The metallic mercury that enters your body through your mouth is just a passer-by in the gastrointestinal tract. In Shanghai, Jiangsu and other places, there are reports that children can excrete mercury through the intestine in only 10 hours after biting the thermometer and swallowing mercury by mistake. So far, no poisoned person has been found, but as a parent, if you find that there is a case of accidental eating, you still have to send it to the hospital for treatment at the first time to avoid accidents.
According to the clinical data of children's hospitals in Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing and other places for many years, it is not uncommon for children to bite the thermometers, but children with mercury poisoning have never been found.
When cleaning mercury at home, do not touch it directly with your hands. It can be cleaned up with tools such as rags and mops. After the mercury is cleaned, open the doors and windows for ventilation to avoid poisoning again.