Tips and rules from the Ministry of Emergencies: how to collect mercury at home without consequences

Despite the fact that electronic thermometers have long appeared in pharmacies, many still use mercury devices. From a functional point of view, this tool is considered to be more reliable and accurate. However, one careless movement can lead to the fact that the glass of the thermometer will be shattered, and its contents will roll out in all corners. The question immediately arises of how to collect mercury and not be poisoned by harmful vapors. The homemaster.techinfus.com/en/ editorial staff will consider this option in more detail in this publication.

Do not immediately wipe the floor with a wet rag, you need to make sure that the chemical element is completely removed
PHOTO: kleo.ru

What is the danger of mercury to humans

Mercury is an unsafe metal that can actively evaporate at temperatures from + 18 ° C, and freeze only at -38 ° C. Accordingly, if the bulb of the thermometer is damaged, it is highly likely that the vapors of this chemical element will spread throughout the house. The child will be the first to suffer. So what is the danger?

Experts have proven that when mercury vapor enters the body, it settles in the lungs, brain and stomach. They begin their negative impact after three to four hours after contact. As a result, a person's nervous system is disrupted, noises appear in the head, and dizziness is observed.

Most importantly, take precautions to remain invulnerable to the chemical component
PHOTO: m.5-tv.ru

The gastrointestinal tract responds to poisoning with the strongest vomiting, general intoxication of the body. If mercury enters the respiratory system, pulmonary edema occurs and inflammation begins. The human body temperature rises to critical limits (40 ° C).

First steps to eliminate household mercury pollution

The main condition for eliminating a hazardous metal spill indoors is efficiency. Not a minute can be lost after damaging the thermometer, preventing the harmful composition from spreading throughout the house.

1. It is imperative to take all animals and children out of the room without wasting a minute.
2. Provide full ventilation of the room by opening windows and doors so that there is a through flow of air.
3. Quickly put on gloves, a respirator (a gauze bandage treated with a soda solution is also suitable).
4. To exclude possible contact with poison, you should put shoe covers or plastic bags on your legs, the latter will have to be firmly fixed on the foot.
5. We carefully inspect the room, after which, first, we collect all the glass fragments. Only then can you start cleaning.

A previously used gauze bandage will not prevent the penetration of hazardous vapors into the lungs
PHOTO: more-vsego.net

If you fear for your health and do not want to do a professional cleaning yourself, it is advisable to call the Ministry of Emergency Situations. They will perform demercurization, which means cleaning the room from a liquid chemical element.

rules self-collecting mercury

Do not use a broom or vacuum cleaner to collect droplets of mercury. This will give an even greater opportunity for the metal to evaporate and create a high concentration of the chemical element in the air. Cleaning is done as follows.

To get the mercury out of the cracks, you can use a syringe, but then you need to put it together with all the things in a bag
PHOTO: privet.club

Visual inspection

We carefully examine the floor and surfaces that are in the zone of destruction of the mercury thermometer. If necessary, remove the skirting boards and check the gaps if the floor is made of wood. If the balls end up on a rug, bedspread or other textile surface, roll them up and put them in a sealed bag.

Before cleaning, you may even need to dismantle the floor covering
PHOTO: pol-exp.com

Collection of mercury balls

Suppose the balls are rolling on a smooth flooring, in no case should you crush them and try to wipe them off. We take a sheet of clean white paper. Do not use the pages of newspapers and magazines, metal is hard to see on them. Gently pry each ball and roll it into the middle of the sheet. We carefully collect everything, without crushing the already assembled ones. We send the found particles to a jar of cold water and close the lid. Instead of a piece of paper, you can use scotch tape and adhesive tape, which, after collecting, together with the balls, we send to the container.

Use duct tape carefully as the balls are very easy to crush
PHOTO: vizhivanie.com

What does chemical treatment imply?

The use of chemicals is only justified if the balls have spread strongly around the room, they are not visible or they were accidentally damaged. For such purposes, there are special kits and fillers.

All chemical compounds for the destruction of mercury must be diluted in a plastic bucket
PHOTO: dejstvuj.ru

Disinfection kit options

Demercurization bags are capable of destroying the dangerous active substance of mercury in any area of ​​the room. Only a few formulations are considered the most popular. According to experts, these funds effectively deal with the problem of pollution.

1. Demercurization kit DEMERKIT SKM-10 eliminates large quantities of released chemical. It is mainly intended for the rapid destruction of vapors formed in the air of a room up to 10 m².
2. Demercurization kit DEMERKIT SKM-50 (laboratory) is an excellent composition that assumes quick self-disposal of poisonous metal. The kit includes a respirator and an indicator of mercury in the air.
3. Set for demercurization DEMERKIT SKM-20 (household). Immediately after contact with mercury, the drug prevents vapors from spreading to other rooms.Designed for reusable use.

Store the composition only in a tightly closed container.
PHOTO: econ-hg.ru

Before using any of the chemicals to combat mercury spills, you should carefully study the instructions that come with the kit and may be written on the packaging.

What are the tools at hand

The most effective folk remedy that is prepared to destroy traces of evaporation of mercury in the room is potassium permanganate and chlorine. After all the mercury has been collected, it is necessary to destroy its remnants on the floor. To do this, dilute the amount of potassium permanganate at the tip of a knife in two liters of water. Then pour liquid bleach, dampen a rag with this product and walk well on the floor in those places where the metal balls were collected.

A sore throat is the first sign of chemical poisoning.
PHOTO: botanichka.ru

Water diluted with bleach does a good job. To do this, you need a bucket of water (8-10 liters) and half a liter of liquid chlorine (whiteness will do). Dip a rag in the compound and wipe the infected area thoroughly. Ventilate the area and rinse the floor in the usual way.

Avoid getting close to mercury with bare body parts
PHOTO: informator.news

The consequence of demercurization: how to avoid poisoning

So that there are no health problems after processing the poisoned room, it is imperative to rinse the mucous membranes with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Also, ordinary Miramistin can be used as an antiseptic. It is sold in any pharmacy.

Mercury can cause burns when taken in bare hands.
PHOTO: chemistry-chemists.com

It is also recommended to shower with antibacterial soap and wash your hair thoroughly. Remember to take the bags of hazardous material outside to prevent re-exposure.

Not just throw away, but dispose of

After collecting the mercury in a sealed container, it is not enough to send it to the trash can. Damage to the container is possible, after which the metal will erode outward and cause many problems to other people. To prevent this from happening, you need to contact the Ministry of Emergency Situations, explaining the situation. Rescuers will definitely give the necessary recommendations.

Special eco boxes can be used as a receiver. But they can only be used if the mercury balls are placed in a small container.
PHOTO: 56nv.ru

There are collection points for waste containing mercury in almost every settlement. Go there and give back all things that have come into contact with harmful metal.

It is better to choose a transparent jar for collecting poisonous substances
PHOTO: ladyspecial.ru

Features of the collection of mercury on different surfaces

There are several ways to clean up mercury at home. You can spill the chemical on any surface, therefore, if everything is clear with cleaning on the floor, then the actions in the event that poisonous balls hit furniture, carpet or metal panels will be analyzed in this section.

Even the smallest balls must be collected
PHOTO: topnews.ck.ua

Upholstered furniture and carpet (carpet)

If mercury gets on the upholstered furniture, you can use a syringe or thick-nosed syringe. The metal must be sucked in so that the balls are not crushed, but smoothly move inward. The poison is collected from the carpet in the same way. Then the infected area is cleaned with a solution of potassium permanganate, and then re-treated with any cleaning compound.

The poisoned part of the carpet can be cut, of course, if this does not affect its appearance.
PHOTO: ru.wikihow.com

Carpet with a long pile is more difficult to clean, therefore, carefully roll it from one side to the other so as not to lose the balls. We take it out into the street. We lay the film, and, after hanging the carpet, carefully knock out the poisonous elements. We dispose of this chemical together with the package.

Do not use plastic pipettes to collect mercury
PHOTO: ok.ru

We remove mercury on the table

The table, as a rule, also has a smooth surface. Therefore, cleaning will be similar to that done on the floor.

1. Preparing a jar of cold water.
2. Take a soft brush and paper adhesive plaster.
3. Sweep the balls onto an adhesive strip.
4. We dip the scotch tape with the adhered balls of mercury into cold water and cover with a lid.

Be sure to look at the cabinets and shelves that can be found on the table. If any of the boxes were opened during the incident, then the likelihood that harmful substances got there is quite high.

All mercury thermometers must be stored in special cases for safety reasons
PHOTO: otomkak.ru

Collection of mercury on metal surfaces

When you try to wipe the mercury from a broken thermometer or wipe it off a metal table or shelf with a brush, you can see how the metal spreads even more, forming a wide area of ​​evaporation. To prevent this from happening, you need to take a copper plate and gently roll all the balls of the chemical onto it with a cotton swab. Mercury, along with other agents that come into contact with it, are sent to a glass jar filled with cold water.

What is forbidden to do if the room is contaminated with mercury

Do not work with a mercury thermometer in the nursery
PHOTO: otomkak.ru

Improper handling of a poisonous substance often entails the most negative consequences. Therefore, it is not recommended to do the following:

Electronic thermometer is safe but less accurate
PHOTO: ecotestexpress.ru

Scientists believe that 2 g of mercury can poison up to 10 people
PHOTO: medunitsa51.rf

Precautions must be taken to prevent mercury from poisoning your family members. The main thing is to completely exclude contact with a chemical element of all residents of an apartment or house.

Dear readers, if you have any questions about the material of today's publication, be sure to ask them in the comments. Have you ever broken thermometers? What did you do in this situation?

Video: how to properly collect mercury

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