If someone handled liquid mercury 30 years ago?

Question

Would it have any effects on their health by now or would they have noticed long ago? How dangerous is it? My friend used to steal a golfball sized amount of the liquid mercury from the school lab and carry it around in her pockets - maybe she is not still alive!

Answer 1

im not that very sure but it sounds dangerous so im going to stick around to hear what other people will say about it!!

Answer 2

Well, I think if she took the golfball (that'd be kinda cool.. I'd have done that given the opportunity) she wasn't exactly the brightest about it, huh? (neither am I.. ) I think if she did it like a 'fluke' thing, it wouldn't affect her too much now. I think repeated exposure to mercury (even minute amounts) affects the nervous system. ya know, I'm old (53/F if ya care.. nobody does) and I think there is just a shitload of junk now flyin' around in the atmosphere that's gonna get us.. the air, food, all that ****... and hell I luv in the country in the middle of Nowheresville (is nothing safe?) it sux! so, there ya go.. we're all walking friggin' dyin' zombies in this tombstone of life!

Answer 3

Theres a chance they might have gone a bit mental by now, though I think any ill effects would have shown up fairly soon after the event.
If you handled any of this mercury then a simple blood test will show if you are at risk from it.
Nick.

Answer 4

Very unlikely that there is a problem. Cold metallic mercury is not very dangerous, specially in the quantity you had. Long term or heavy exposure to concentrated vapours, and organic compounds of mercury are the problem. Millions of women have had mercury amalgam tooth fillings and produced even more millions of healthy children.

Answer 5

Mercury is harmful to the system BUT was used in amalgam fillings for decades, with only minimal negative effects, though these were sufficient to stop dentists using mercury in amalgam. I expect your friend is okay - I think most of us have had either amalgam fillings of played with a broken thermometer from time to time with no ill-effects!

However, if you're a bit bored, the following site details the problems that occur with mercury in fillings www.amalgam.org.

A briefer and more to the point explanation of the risks I've pasted below from the following poisons site: http://www.calpoison.org/public/mercury.html

Elemental mercury
Mercury is an extremely heavy, odorless, silver colored liquid. Mercury exists as a natural element in the earth's crust. Elemental mercury is also known as metallic mercury, liquid mercury, liquid silver and quicksilver.



What are sources of exposure to elemental mercury?
Sources of elemental mercury in the home include broken mercury thermometers, broken fluorescent light bulbs, dental amalgam fillings, mercury containing latex paints, extraction of gold from ore using mercury, and contaminated clothing from workers in thermometer making plants. Elemental mercury is also used as a Mexican folk medicine to treat "empacho," a chronic stomach disorder.



How toxic is elemental mercury?
Of all the forms of mercury, elemental mercury is the most commonly swallowed form of mercury, usually from a broken thermometer. Fortunately, elemental mercury from a thermometer is not absorbed from the stomach and will not cause any poisoning in a healthy person. In a healthy person, the slippery swallowed mercury will roll into the stomach, out in to the bowels and will be quickly eliminated without causing any symptoms. A person with severe inflammatory bowel disease or those with a fistula (hole or opening) in their gut may have problems with mercury if it is not all cleared out, resulting in prolonged exposure. Handling liquid mercury for a very short period of time usually does not result in any problems. An allergic rash is possible, though. Mercury is not well absorbed across the skin so skin contact is not likely to cause mercury poisoning, especially with a brief one-time exposure. Even if a person has cuts in their skin, mercury is too heavy to be contained by a cut. Merely washing the wound well will wash the mercury out of the wound.



Can elemental mercury be dangerous?
Inhalation of elemental mercury vapors is the main cause of toxicity, as mercury is well absorbed by the lungs. To develop problems by inhalation you need either a large one-time exposure or a long-term exposure. A small, one-time exposure is not likely to cause problems.

Answer 6

We used to break thermometers when we were kids and play with the mercury. That was over 40 years ago. We also never wore seat belts and didn't have access to anti bacterial hand wipes. We were a wild generation.

Answer 7

hey.. All chemicals stored in the lab should always be considered as toxic or harmful... what unusual conditions you noticed in your health or skin?

if you have taken the precautions when you handled it 30 years ago, than it should not be a problem..

Answer 8

Handling liquid mercury has no ill effect!

Answer 9

I am only a 16 year old lad but i would say if it was going to do anything to you it would have done it by now so don't worry email back at [e-mail]

Answer 10

Go to see your doctor now and get a blood test. Even just hanging with her could have put you at risk