Mercury Information

What is Mercury?

Mercury is a silver-colored liquid metal.
Mercury is also known as “quicksilver” or “azogue.”
Mercury is toxic. It becomes dangerous when it comes in contact with the air and vaporizes.

What is Mercury
Used For?

Mercury has been found in many household, medical, and industrial products.
Mercury is used in some school labs.
Mercury is used in some spiritual traditions for protection, spells, and spiritual cleansing.

Why is Mercury
a Health Problem?

  • You can’t see or smell mercury vapor from a spill, but it can still poison you.Children under the age of 6 and women who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant are most at risk to the health effects of mercury exposure.Eating fish contaminated by mercury can be dangerous to your health.Short-term high levels of exposure can cause headaches, lung damage, nausea, vomiting, skin rashes, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure and heart rate.
  • Long-term high levels of exposure can lead to permanent damage to the brain, kidneys, and developing fetus.
Read labels and be aware of mercury-containing products.
Choose alternatives to these products where possible.

Mercury Thermometer
(silver bulb). Dispose at a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection. Substitute an alcohol (red bulb) or digital thermometer.Liquid mercury
(brought home as a novelty from school or work or for ritual use, such as espiritisimo). Dispose at HHW Collection. Consult with spiritual advisor for substitutes.

Mercury switches (found in convenience lighting in some automobiles). Have auto mechanic replace with mercury-free ball bearing switches.
What You
Can Do
About
Products
Containing
Mercury

Fluorescent light bulbs
(use them because they are very efficient). Recycle spent bulbs at HHW collection or
town drop-off, if available. Mercury gauge on a gas furnace:
(If the meter was replaced, check the area around the furnace for signs of spillage.) If mercury is found, call a state environmental agency listed on the CCAR-GreenLink website for spill clean-up assistance.

Mercury thermostat.
Dispose at HHW Collection. Replace with an electronic model.

Bring mercury-containing items to a
Household Hazardous Waste Collection.
Check with local environmental agency
for the schedule in your area.

 

Additional Information:

 State-Specific Information:

     

Last Updated: November 2006

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