what may happen if you swallow a mercury from a termometer?

Answer 1

Fortunately, this is uncommon and fairly unlikely. To get the mercury in you will have lead to a glass breakage which will be affecting your mouth, throat and stomach. You would probably need medical assistance for this alone.

Mercury is venomously poisonous (it is also very reactive - try dropping mercury onto a piece of aluminium and see what happens). I have been told that any mercury dropets in you will eat through your stomach lining and much other flesh it touches. So, you have two worries, not just one (toxicnous, organic attack).

If this really has happened get to a hospital (you need more than a GP, and you need it NOW).


EDIT: If you drop mercury on say your floor and need to get rid of it (as you do), one recommended way that I was taught was to use a small paintbrush made of copper strands, (not hair) and sit it on the mercury. It will run up the strands through capillary action (and I think for a chemical reason too). You then dispose of the brush in an environmenally sound way (my original answer was "hurf the brush in the rubbish" - I decided this was environmentally unfriendly).

Of course, you cannont just buy these copper brushes at a corner store. You could however make a simple brush from fine copper wire cut (say) into 2 inch lengths - and tie them tightly together. It is not as hard as it sounds - it is actually easy - it need not be the Rolls Royce of the brush industry. In reality you would probably call the emergency services. If however you want or need an alternative, this method was taught to me in a formal course.

Answer 2

Few thermometers contain mercury; most use colored alcohol.

Elemental mercury isn't very reactive. It doesn't react with gold or aluminum, it forms an amalgam. Holding metallic mercury in your hand is harmless if you do it for just a short time. Certain compounds like methylmercury and dimethylmercury are extremely toxic. You are much more likely to absorb mercury by digestion than by skin contact, but again, if you promptly induce vomiting (syrup of epicac for example), your absorption is likely to be minimal.

Whatever is absorbed is definitely harmful, so it's always wise to minimize exposure.

Answer 3

If it was a medical thermometer, it probably contained alcohol, not mercury, but you really need to find out what it was.

If it was a mercury thermomether, it probably wasn't a fatal dose. However, even the tiny amount of mercury in dental fillings is something to be concerned about. It can result in a host of chronic ailments, from lower grades in school to insanity.

Answer 4

short answer is if you drank a few drops OF THE METAL then nothing should happen

Fortunately the elemental mercury is significantly harder to be absorbed into your body than its compounds,but this does not mean its safe still.For example the elemental stuff can be absorbed very very slowly through your skin.Although not advised you could still touch mercury with bare skin and as long as you wash your hands after with no ill effects,i have the stuff but still ware gloves.The other way the elemental stuff can get in you is through vapours,mercury fumes can be rapidly absorbed through your lungs, but not much vapour comes off the metal at room temp although advised to have the area ventilated during and after use,unless it was in many droplets then the air will get toxic very quick.

Now to answer you're question about 99.9% elemental mercury is passed through the other end of you so you may have drink at least a quarter of a pound of mercury to get the min lethal dose of it (but don't drink any amount!!!!) .So a couple of drops should not hurt you but not advised.Now if you eaten tiny amounts of any one of its compound then thats a different story as the compounds are hundreds of times more toxic than the element.and yes if drank a few drops of its compounds then you will die as most cases of mercury poisoning is linked to its compounds not the metal.

Answer 5

I have personally eaten a mercury thermometer when I was just 3 years old I also ate the glass as well unless the Mercury gets into your blood system it is harmless to you

Answer 6

its said a
if a little mercury is kept in a hole of a big tree..
the tree will become dry,leafless,and fall down within a week..

but at the same time there is something like using mercury in the tests for tantra..

mercury as such i guess is a poison..but HgCl2 is used as purgatives..but its totally different from mercury..in its compnd form

Answer 7

I do not think that mercury is used in thermometers any more they now use alcohol so if it is a newer thermometer than it shouldnt have mercury in it, but i would still call poison control or something to make sure.

Answer 8

Ever heard the phrase 'mad as a hatter'? It came about because hatters (people who made hats) used mercury in the process. Same thing happens if you swallow it.

Answer 9

You'll be on the Loo the rest of Your Life but the Eventual Cause of death would be caused by the Mercury! Unless You got run over!!

Answer 10

A tiny amount will probably not do any damage, but you should call poison control and get advice.

Mercury is extremely toxic. You cannot effectively digest or excrete it from your system. It builds up, causes neurological disorders, and ultimately organ failure and death.