2006-08-15 15:49:24 · 10 answers · asked by babyrap 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
very high health risk, call your doctor right away and get a list of mercury poisoning symptoms at tthe first sign go to hospital. You may even want to go now anways because he is young and liquid mercury is highly dangerous especially if ingested. Good luck and Ihope your baby is ok, Ill keep him in my prayers.
2006-08-15 15:54:59 · answer #1 · answered by University Girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is unlikely the thermometer contains mercury. Use of mercury in thermometers has been outlawed for quite a while, however the old ones still have it. If it was an older thermometer, you will see the liquid mercury around the area of the break. The danger of contact is very high. Call poison control immediately.
2006-08-15 22:59:11 · answer #2 · answered by Mos 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assuming that this is a fairly recent thermometer, it's not mercury. They stopped using that in thermometers in most of the developed world when it was found that it was dangerous.
Contact with the medium is probably not going to be a huge problem as long as it didn't all go down the throat (if it was mercury). If it was mercury and it was just skin contact, cleaning well, removing all of it from the area should leave minimal lasting impact.
2006-08-15 22:57:58 · answer #3 · answered by oldmoose2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Broken thermometers are the cause of numerous calls to the Poison Center. Thermometers with a silver line contain elemental mercury. Thermometers with a red or blue liquid do NOT contain mercury. There is much misinformation about mercury, its various forms and its dangers. Three different types of mercury exist, varying in their levels of toxicity. They are elemental mercury, inorganic mercury and organic mercury.
http://www.calpoison.org/public/mercury.html
2006-08-15 22:55:24 · answer #4 · answered by mahajafanies 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
“If you break a thermometer in your home, open the doors and windows and get fresh air into the house as soon as possible,” said Dr. Allison Muller, director of the Poison Control Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
To clean up spilled mercury, Muller advised against contaminating the household broom or using a vacuum. “If heated, mercury can become gas very quickly,” Muller said. “A vacuum has heat.”
Instead, take off your jewelry — “mercury will bind to gold,” she said — and put on gloves to protect against skin exposure. If the spill is on a hard surface, use sticky tape or scoop up the mercury with cardboard, double bag everything and call the DSWA for safe disposal. Do not put the bag in with your household trash and do not wash the mercury down the sink.
“While you’re waiting to hear what to do with it, put it outside,” Muller said, noting if the spill is on carpet, you may have to cut out the affected section.
As for any immediate signs of mercury exposure, vapors may cause irritability, sweating, apathy or skin irritability. It also may produce flu-like symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
“The hardest part about mercury exposure is that the symptoms mimic other problems,” Muller said. “It might not raise a red flag.”
The best advice, Muller said, is if you have good reason to suspect mercury exposure, don’t hesitate to call the Poison Control Center for advice and if needed, a referral for tests.
In the meantime, she added, “Mercury thermometers are only a problem if they break … but nobody needs to panic if a mercury thermometer breaks.”
Using the precautions above, make sure you clean it up promptly and dispose of it properly, Muller said.
FOR ASSISTANCE
If you think you need advice or assistance due to mercury exposure or other suspected poisonings, call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.
2006-08-15 23:04:21 · answer #5 · answered by phoenixheat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not much if the mercury was quickly removed and not eaten. Why are you using a mercury thermometer? Come on, join the 21st century.
2006-08-15 22:56:24 · answer #6 · answered by starting over 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
how old was the thermometer if it was semi new it might not have been mercury but alcohol inside it. If it is real mercury then a little exposure is not harmful
2006-08-15 22:56:01 · answer #7 · answered by The original John Doe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If its a newer thermometer, it has no mercury.
They outlawed them around the 80's.
If you are unsure-- call the ER.
2006-08-15 22:55:26 · answer #8 · answered by Lisa the Pooh 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very dangerous especially for the young, keep him away from the vapors as well. Clean it all up thouroughly.
2006-08-15 22:55:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it frezzez when it hits the air (idoit)
2006-08-15 23:02:09 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋