Safety and Cleanup Procedures in the Case of Mercury Spills

When mercury is spilled, it breaks apart into tiny silver beads that can easily scatter and adhere to any surface and get into cracks. Once a mercury spill occurs, immediately turn off central heating or cooling systems. This would minimize any disturbances that might cause the mercury to breakup even further into even smaller beads, which can be easily vaporized and inhaled. Also higher temperatures increase the rate of vaporization of mercury.

Do Nots

Do Not use household products to clean up the spill, such as bleach or any other cleaners that uses ammonia or chlorine. The use of these cleaners will react violently with mercury to release toxic gases.

Do Not use brooms and mops to clean up spilled mercury. It will just increase the spread of contamination by dispersing the beads.

Do Not use vacuum cleaners. It will breakup mercury into smaller droplets and scatter them in all directions. And the heat from the vacuum will only increase the rate of vaporization of mercury and contamination. Also, it may ruin the vacuum, and it will also be required to be disposed of later.

Do Not dispose of mercury into sinks, bathtubs or toilets. Because of its adhesive nature, mercury will stick onto the inside wall of the pipes and become trapped. Once it is trapped, mercury will evaporate and re-enter the home.

Cleanup Procedures for Only Small Metallic Mercury Spills (less than 5 grams)

In the case of small spills of metallic mercury (such as those found in fever thermometers - about 4.5 grams), it can be cleaned up from hard surfaces such as tile, wood, or linoleum floors. But in the case that it was spilled on carpets, upholstery or porous surfaces, these materials "should be discarded". Otherwise they should be specially cleaned with mercury spill kits and detergents. These kits are sold by safety equipment distributors, industrial safety supply outlets, or laboratory safety services.

If the amount of mercury spilled goes beyond those amount found in fever thermometers, do not attempt to clean up the spill yourself. (Instead, read this)

Before the Cleanup:

Keep children, pregnant women and pets away from the contamination site before and during cleanup.

Mercury is adhesive. So when cleaning up mercury spills, clothing, shoes, and jewelry need extra care to prevent contamination. Metallic mercury adheres to gold very easily, so jewelry should be removed to prevent its damage.

Cleanup Steps:

1. Materials needed include: a few sealable plastic bags, a trash bag, rubber or latex gloves, paper towels, cardboard or squeegee, an eyedropper, wide tape and a flashlight.
2. Put on the rubber or latex gloves.
3. Carefully pick up and place any broken pieces of glass (from the thermometer or any other containers) in a paper towel and place the towel in a sealable plastic bag to be discarded.
4. Use stiff cardboard or a rubber squeegee to collect the tiny mercury beads in one place (use a flashlight to aid you in finding places where beads may adhere to surfaces and get into cracks in the floor).
5. Use the eyedropper to carefully draw up the mercury beads. Carefully squeeze the beads onto a slightly wet paper towel. Place the towel into a sealable plastic bag to be discarded.
6. Use the sticky side of a wide tape to pick up any left over glass and beads. When finished, place the tape with any glass and mercury beads into a sealable plastic bag.
7. When cleanup is done, place the cardboard or squeegee into a sealable plastic bag to be discarded.
8. Carefully remove the rubber gloves and place them in another sealable plastic bag.
9. Put all the sealed plastic bags in a sealed garbage bag and dispose it with regular household trash.
   

   Post-Cleanup Steps:

   Open a window for 24 to 48 hours in the previously contaminated room to ventilate the area (only after cleanup has been completed).

   Do not vacuum the area until 2 to 3 days after the cleanup.

Large Metallic Mercury Spills (5 grams or greater)

Any larger amounts of mercury spills (more than those found in fever thermometers) require contacting the New York City Department of Health Poison Control Center or the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to recycle the mercury.

1. Immediately evacuate everyone that's in the room of the spill and close all doors.
2. Do not make contact or inhale the mercury vapors.
3. If possible, without contact to skin and clothing, contain the spill.
4. Turn off central heating or cooling systems.

Sources:

Metallic Mercury Exposure: A Guide for Health-Care Providers. The City of New York: Department of Health.

Natasha, Dwamena., Nancy, Jeffery., Lori, Stevenson., Metallic Mercury Poisoning. The City of New York: Department of Health.

Leo, Henning., Mercury Information Page Kansas Department of Health and Environment http://www.kdhe.state.ks.us/mercury/