How much mercury in a thermometer: balls and grams

A medical device that accompanies us throughout life - from the first minutes of the birth to the light and, perhaps, to the grave board - a thermometer for measuring the body. People are so used to it that they often treat the so-called thermometer very negligently, and yet this small cone with a scale carries a lot of threats. The understanding of this fact begins if the thermometer crashed, then the residents of the apartment wonder: how much mercury in the thermometer, how to get rid of it and whether it is necessary to call some service, and if so, which one?

Caution! Danger in your home

The thermometer itself, of course, does not pose a danger, but only as long as it is absolutely whole. Although in any case it is better to store it in a place not accessible to children, regardless of their age. Unintentional kids like to put this device in places not intended for it (including their own ear or nose), and safely forget about them. A curious older child may decide to conduct an experiment and find out how much mercury in the thermometer, what she is, look at how the thermometer works.

The most serious danger is a broken device. And here already two sources of deterioration of human health - the smallest pieces of glass and actually mercury itself. With glass everything is clear - it is enough to collect it, and if there remains a fragment, it threatens only a superficial wound. The reagent, by which the body temperature is measured, can in no case be left in housing, it is not so important how much mercury in the thermometer: in any amount it is dangerous to human health.

Mercury thermometer - how many toxic "silver" it contains?

To begin with, it should be said that it is not the liquid metal itself which is dangerous , but the vapors that it emits when heated. Their entry into the human body promises a bad state of health and serious intoxication with all the ensuing consequences:

• Nausea;
• Weakness;
• Upset stomach;
• Pain in the abdominal cavity;
• Fever and chills;
• A violation of consciousness (hallucinations, delusions).

Such an effect can be achieved if several thermometers are broken in the room, doing everything that aggravates the situation (about the correct algorithm of actions and what needs to be done, a little lower).

In a conventional medical thermometer, there may be different amounts of mercury for measuring body temperature . How many grams of mercury in the thermometer depends on the manufacturer. So, in domestic it is slightly larger than in imported ones - 3 g compared to 1 g in thermometers produced in the Netherlands, for example.

However, it is difficult for an average person to imagine how much it is - 2 grams, no one will go to weigh it on household scales. After the thermometer crashed, the metal is rolled into drops of different diameters, and you need to collect it in these balls. How many pieces of them will be from one device, can not be reliably said. It all depends on what surface the thermometer broke - the softer landing was, the less likely that mercury would crumble into a multitude of tiniest parts.

We are in step with the times

The most effective way to protect yourself is not to use a mercury thermometer in everyday life. Someone can argue and say that alternative devices are not so accurate, but perhaps it is better to tolerate an error of 2-3 tenths of a degree than to guess after the thermometer crashed in the apartment, how much mercury is weathered, how to assemble it and what is it Generally fraught.

The modern market offers several substitutes, safe and convenient, because they allow you to measure the temperature faster, and some models even without contact with the body:

• Electronic thermometers;
• Infrared thermometers.

These modern devices are able to remember the values of past measurements, they can be made of recoiling materials, do not break, do not break, if you press down such a thermometer or accidentally lie on it.

Methods of demercurization

What should I do if the thermometer is still broken? First of all - do not panic. Splinters in any case can not be swept off with a broom and even more so clean up with a vacuum cleaner. Mercury is dangerous, just when it evaporates. This happens if the air temperature in the room is above 17-18 degrees and there are air currents (drafts). Mechanical damage to the balls leads to the fact that their specific area increases, respectively, they further poison the air.

You can, of course, call SES or private organizations that are engaged in cleaning, including such a specific nature. They will not only collect mercury, but also a special device, an ozonizer, and treat the air. This will make non-volatile mercury, which has fallen under the floor, in cracks or piley covers (carpets, furniture, curtains).

Independently, the balls can be collected with a syringe, a wet brush or a magnet. The floor must be treated with a concentrated solution of laundry soap, bleach or manganese - they will not allow the metal to evaporate.

It is important to understand not only how much mercury is in the thermometer, but also what kind of danger it poses - one ball with a diameter of 2-3 mm evaporates within three years, and all this time it will poison the body, therefore, in no case should you leave mercury in Indoors!