Mercury Presentation 2 Simplified

8/8/2019 Mercury Presentation 2 Simplified

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MERCURY (Hg) AND US

Introduction

Safety Moment

Emergency Situation

Breaks and Bathrooms

Please put your Cell Phones on Silent or Vibrate


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What is Mercury

It is the only metal on earth whichis liquid at room temperatures.

Elemental mercury is the pure

form of mercury. It is a shiny,silver-white, odorless liquid, much

heavier than water.


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Uses for Mercury

Elemental mercury is used in oralthermometers, barometers,sphygmomanometers (devices usedto test blood pressure), wallthermostats for heating and cooling,

fluorescent light bulbs/tubes, somebatteries, electric light switches, someindoor gas meter regulators (in housesbuilt before the 1960s), and for avariety of other purposes.

It is also used in some ethnic religiousand cultural practices, and is the formof mercury that is commonly used inschool chemistry labs.


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Uses for Mercury Cont.

Elemental mercury is the form ofmercury that many adults remember

rubbing on coins as children to make

them shine; and it is because of this

practice that many people do not realizethe true danger of being exposed to

Elemental mercury.

It is used in the Oil andWater drilling

frequently but it is also released from theearths crust during these process as well


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How the public is exposed to Elemental mercury?

People can be exposed to Elementalmercury when glass thermometers or

other devices containing mercury are

broken, or when mercury is brought

into the home (most often by children)from schools, abandoned industrial

sites, or other sites where it may be

stored. If not promptly and properly

cleaned up and disposed of, it can bespread by walking


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How the public is exposed to Elemental mercury?

sweeping, or vacuuming, thereby presenting a potential

health threat. Tracking throughout the house or intoautomobiles.

While the health risk is not great at the time of a spill, it willincrease over time if the mercury is not properly removed.

At air temperatures found in homes, mercury evaporatesslowly.

Mercury vapors are heavier than air and tend to remainnear the floor or mercury source, but can get into theventilation system and be spread throughout the home.

Outdoors, mercury vapors tend to go away quickly, butindoors (particularly with windows closed), mercury vaporswill accumulate in the air.

People can absorb Elemental mercury into their bodies

when they breathe the vapors.


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How can mercury enter my body?

Elemental mercury is absorbed into the bodyprimarily by breathing the airborne vapors.Elemental mercury cannot go throughintact skin very well, so touching the beadsis less of a problem than breathing the

vapors. If you swallow the metal mercury (which is

certainly not recommended), passesthrough your body almost completely withoutbeing absorbed. Therefore, in almost all

circumstances, breathing the mercury vaporsin the air is the only real source of entry ofElemental mercury into the human body.


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How can Elemental mercury affect my health?

The nervous system is sensitive to Elemental mercury.

Exposure to very high levels of Elemental mercury vaporcan cause brain, kidney, and lung damage and mayseriously harm a developing fetus.

Exposure to mercury vapor concentrations high enough toproduce such serious effects might also cause coughing,chest pains, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in

blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, and eyeirritation.

Exposure to lower levels of airborne mercury forprolonged periods of time would produce more subtleeffects, such as irritability, sleep disturbances, excessiveshyness, tremors, coordination problems, changes invision or hearing, and memory problems.

Most of the effects of mercury resulting from prolongedlower level exposure are reversible, once exposure isterminated and the mercury has left your body.


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How mercury affects children

Very young children are moresensitive than adults to the effects

of mercury. Children 5 years of age

and younger are considered to beparticularly sensitive to the effects

of mercury on the nervous system,

since their central nervous system

is still developing.


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Mercury affects children Cont.

Some children exposed to high mercury vapor levelsdevelop a reversible condition called acrodynia, in whichthe palms of the hands and soles of the feet often becomereddened and tender, before beginning to peel. Childrenwith acrodynia may also have mood swings, increasedirritability, difficulty sleeping, and muscle or joint pains.

Exposure levels high enough to cause acrodynia mightalso cause coughing or pain in the chest area. Acrodyniais usually, but not always, associated with urine mercuryconcentrations of 100 micrograms (or more) of mercuryper liter of urine.


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Mercury affects children Cont.

When pregnant women are exposedto mercury, the mercury can passfrom the mother's body to thedeveloping fetus; it can also be

passed to a nursing infant throughbreast milk. However, since breastfeeding itself has significant healthbenefits, a physician should be

consulted before stopping breastfeeding because the mother mayhave been exposed to mercury.


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Medical test for Mercury?

Tests are available to measure mercurylevels in the body.

Blood or urine samples are used to test

for exposure to Elemental mercury.

Once exposure has stopped, the mercury

level in the blood begins to drop rapidly,

so blood tests are useful only for

continuing or very recent exposures.

Blood mercury levels are not considered

a good predictor of toxic effects.


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Since the Elemental mercury that is absorbedinto the body is passed almost exclusively inthe urine, urine samples provide the bestindicator of exposure to Elemental Mercury.

Urine samples may be either collected over a24-hour period, or may be taken once

(preferably soon after awakening in themorning) and adjusted for a substance calledcreatinine, which occurs naturally in the urine.Urine mercury concentrations over 10micrograms per liter would indicate that aperson has been exposed to higher mercury

levels than the average population. However,that does not imply that health effects willnecessarily result.

Medical test for Mercury?


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Mercury Spills? What NOT to do

Never use a broom or brush onElemental Mercury; it will make the

Mercury vaporize faster and cause it to

become smaller droplets

Never use a standard vacuum cleaner:The Mercury will vaporize and right

through the filters.

DONT LET IT GO DOWN A DRAIN


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Mercury Spills? What To do

Secure the area.. Dont let anyone come tosee without proper PPE

Try to adjust to temperature down: Mercuryvaporizes quicker as it gets warmer.

Tell you Supervisor and Environmental Engineer

If the area is an enclosed space open a coupleof windows or use a small fan to move the air;this will help the Vapor to move around andreduce large concentrations


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Be careful not to cross contaminate

(Do not walk though the spilled mercury will get on you

shoes)

You will need a plastic zip lock baggie, a porous sponge,

an index card, and a plastic jar with a good seal. Glass

jars are ok as long as they are secured very well.


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Start your inspection for spilled mercury several feet away

from the spill looking for droplets. (It may help to darken

the room and use a flash light or black light in the room the

mercury will reflect the light)

Take your time, if you are in a hurry you will make

mistakes

Use your index card to push the mercury droplets in the

zip lock bag.

Work you way towards the larger mercury droplets

following the same procedure.

Use the sponge to lightly wipe down the area Mercury will

adhere to the sponge Place the bag and sponge into the Jar, label it Elemental

Mercury, time and date HAZARDOUS MATERIAL


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Have the area tested for Mercury vapor.

Create a Spill Response report and Lessons

Learned for each spill so every one can learn

from the incident.


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Rubber or PVC gloves

Goggles or safetyglasses

Disposable shoecovers

REMOVE ALLMETAL JEWELRY!!!

(Mercury Sticks toother metals verywell)

PPE & Clothing


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Mercury Disposal

No mercury, including brokenthermometers, may be disposed of

in the normal trash or into the sewer

system.


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Disposal

Label the container with thefollowing:

Waste Mercury Containing Lamps

Toxic (or appropriate for region)

Date placed in the container

Store in a secure, ventilated area

Hazardous/Universal waste storage

area


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MercuryWaste

Includes the mercury and allwaste materials contaminated

with mercury.

Gloves and other contaminated

debris.


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Basics to Remember 4 Spills

Prevent spills by having a plan to all mercury-

containing equipment or material In case of a spill:

Stop and Think, Stop Working, Stop the spill

Warn Others

Isolate the Area

MonitorYourself Carefully and Completely

Stay In or Near the Area Until Help Arrives

Do not: allow anyone near the spill without properPPE

Do not: Use anything but the company approved

clean material.TELL SOMEONE: Lessons Must be learned and

corrective actions implemented to prevent similaraccidents.


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Other forms of Mercury to be concerned about

Two other forms of Mercury that youmay come in contact with at home

are..

Inorganic Mercury

Organic Mercury


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Types of Inorganic Hg

Mercury is combined with other elements, such aschlorine, sulfur or oxygen, inorganic mercuric salts occur,generally in the form of white powders or crystals.

You could or can find Inorganic mercury in:

Antibacterial Medicines containing 2% Hg

Eye treatment products, such as eye drops and contactlens solutions

vaginal contraceptives gels and suppositories:

mercuric chloride is a topical antiseptic once widely usedin laxatives, teething powders and worming medications

mercuric iodide, used in creams to lighten the skin. Theseformulations are still used in some prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as pharmaceutical

preservatives. Mercuric sulfide and oxide are sometimes used as

colorants in paint and tattoo dyes.


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Organic Mercury(such as Methyl mercury)

Can change from one form to another in theenvironment. Methyl mercury tends toaccumulate to some degree in all fish, but

especially in predatory fish. Methyl mercuryis absorbed through the digestive tract anddistributed throughout the body. It readilyenters the brain, where it may remain for along period of time. In a pregnant woman, itcan also cross the placenta into the fetus,building up in the fetal brain and othertissues. Methyl mercury can also be passedto the infant through breast milk.


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Organic Mercury

Organic mercury may occur as methyl mercury,alkyl mercury or phenyl mercury. OrganicMercury is considered to be the largestthreat to you and I.

Methyl mercury is the most common form of

organic mercury, and is produced primarily bymicroorganisms, bacteria and fungi in theenvironment.. The greatest concern for methylmercury derived from its uptake by fresh andsaltwater fish and shellfish. Fish at the top ofthe food chain (Large Predatory Fish) willhave the largest amount, and the oldest fish willhave accumulated the most.


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How Mercury Moves


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Questions?

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Mercury Presentation 2 Simplified