Mercury Hazards • All forms of mercury are toxic. • Mercury is volatile and can be inhaled as a vapor. • Mercury is also absorbed through the skin. • Health effects include nervous system impairment and kidney damage. • Liquid mercury breaks up into small droplets that can scatter. • See the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for further health hazard information. • Dartmouth mercury poisoning incident: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Karen_Wetterhahn 2 Engineering Controls • Always use mercury in a fume hood with adequate ventilation or with a vapor containment system. • Use catch basins and pans made of smooth ...

 

Topics • Mercury (Hg) and variations • Properties • Historic uses • In-home uses • Amalgams • Dental use • Health effects • Hg poisoning • Respirator recommendations • Response safety • Bibliography PPT-056-01AP 2 Mercury Awareness and Safety • Atomic number 80 • Also known as quicksilver • Only metal that is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure • Only other element that is liquid under these conditions is bromine PPT-056-01AP 3 Mercury (Hg) • Mercury occurs as deposits; mostly as cinnabar, known as mercuric sulfide. • Cinnabar: Highly toxic by ingestion or dust inhalation • Elemental ...