Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: How to Test Instruments and Devices for Mercury
• Method 2 of 4: How to Identify Mercury in Various Objects
• Method 3 of 4: How to Prevent Contact with Liquid Mercury
• Method 4 of 4: How to handle spilled mercury
• Tips
• Warnings

Under natural conditions, mercury is found in minerals and soil. Mercury is liquid at room temperature. To detect mercury at home, test various measuring devices first. Thermometers, barometers, and other devices often contain mercury. You can also check some types of lighting lamps, antiques and small batteries. If you find mercury in your home, carefully collect it so it doesn't splash or evaporate.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: How to Test Instruments and Devices for Mercury

1. 1 Check the thermometer. Mercury was often used in older thermometers. If you find a shiny liquid in an old thermometer, it could be mercury.
2. 2 Check the barometer. If you have an old barometer (a device that measures air pressure), it may contain liquid mercury. Look for a silvery-white liquid in the center tube of the barometer.
   • The barometer can be located both inside and outside the house.
3. 3 Check for mercury in gas appliances. Many gas appliances use mercury heat sensors (or flame detectors). These small devices are also called automatic gas shut-off valves and are commonly used in gas ovens, stoves, and water heaters to stop the flow of gas when it does not generate heat. Check for liquid mercury in these devices.
4. 4 Check other devices and measuring instruments. There are many other devices and appliances that can contain liquid mercury. For example, if you have health problems, it is common to keep a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure monitor) that uses liquid mercury at home.Liquid mercury can also be contained in the following devices and devices:
   • esophageal dilators (cardiodilators), tracheal tubes, gastrointestinal tubes;
   • flow meters;
   • hydrometers;
   • psychrometers;
   • manometers;
   • pyrometers.

Method 2 of 4: How to Identify Mercury in Various Objects

1. 1 Check your home for compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Older incandescent lamps do not contain liquid mercury, but some modern CFLs contain it. Examine the lamp box for a warning that the lamp contains mercury.
   • Energy-saving lamps usually contain no more than 4 milligrams of mercury, which is very little.
   • Even if CFL contains mercury, this metal is there in gaseous form, not liquid.
   • There is no mercury in LED lamps.
2. 2 Check for mercury in tilt switches. These switches are also referred to as tilt sensors, or “mercury switches”. They were used in older devices. Such mercury switches can be found in freezers, televisions, thermostats, washing machines, electric heaters, and clothes dryers.
   • To find out if the device contains mercury, contact the manufacturer or refer to the instruction manual.
   • Contact your household appliance recycling company or your local emergency office to find out how best to dispose of hazardous appliances.
   • Thermostats can contain up to three grams of mercury.
3. 3 Check small batteries. Most batteries do not contain mercury, but the miniature “button batteries” used in wristwatches, hearing aids, toys, pacemakers, and other small devices still contain mercury. If you find batteries like this, they most likely contain mercury.
4. 4 Check for mercury in pharmaceuticals. Some pharmaceutical products may contain mercury. Mercury can be found in skin antiseptics, face creams, contact lens solutions, and some vaccines. To check if the appropriate products are free of mercury, check their composition or contact the manufacturer.
5. 5 Check out antique clocks. In the 17th century and earlier, clocks often used liquid mercury to give the necessary weight to the pendulum. If you have an antique watch, it may contain mercury.

Method 3 of 4: How to Prevent Contact with Liquid Mercury

1. 1 Get rid of devices that contain liquid mercury. If you find items that contain or may contain mercury, replace them with counterparts that do not contain mercury. For example, get a new digital one instead of an old mercury thermometer.
2. 2 Handle mercury-containing devices with care. For example, if you have an old mercury glass thermometer, don't throw it casually on the table. Place the thermometer gently on a soft surface and store it carefully.
   • For example, you can wrap a mercury thermometer in a soft cloth and store it in a sturdy wooden box.
3. 3 Replace mercury-containing devices. Do not dispose of light bulbs and other mercury-containing devices in a waste container. They can crash and pollute the surroundings. Instead, contact your local household appliance recycling company and ask if they accept mercury-containing devices.
   • If so, follow their recommendations.
   • If not, ask them if they know who accepts home appliances with mercury.

Method 4 of 4: How to handle spilled mercury

1. 1 Collect small drops of mercury with a medical pipette. If you spill a small amount of mercury (for example, you break a thermometer), warn everyone in the house to stay away from the contaminated area until you clean it up. Put on disposable gloves and use a medical pipette to collect the liquid mercury. Place the drops in a tight-fitting container (such as an old medicine bottle).
   • Place the used pipette and container of mercury in a tightly resealable plastic bag.
   • Contact your waste disposal service to find out how to dispose of liquid mercury.
2. 2 If more mercury is spilled, contact a professional. If you spill more mercury than a regular mercury thermometer, leave your home immediately. Contact demercurization specialists and ask them to check the air condition and remove mercury from the house.
3. 3 Keep other people and pets away from spilled mercury. If mercury spills out of a device, appliance, or other object, warn everyone to stay away from it. In this way, they will avoid contact with liquid mercury and will not carry it around the house.
4. 4 Do not try to remove the mercury in your usual way. Vacuuming can lead to the vaporization of mercury. As a result, you (or someone else) can inhale mercury vapor, which is hazardous to health. Also, do not try to scoop up the mercury with a sponge or brush.
   • Using a vacuum cleaner or sponge will only result in mercury contamination.
5. 5 Cut out any areas of the carpet that have come into contact with the liquid mercury. If you find mercury on the carpet, cut out the appropriate area (including the backing underneath it). Gently roll the stained area with the backing to prevent the mercury from spilling out, and place it in a trash bag.

Tips

• Some hospitals and social centers are running a program to replace mercury thermometers with electronic ones.
• If you are not sure if an item contains mercury, contact the manufacturer and ask about it.
• Liquid crystal screens use mercury vapor rather than liquid mercury.
• Paints manufactured after 1992 do not contain mercury.
• Pesticides produced after 1994 do not contain mercury.

Warnings

• Keep all products containing mercury away from children, pregnant women, and the elderly, as they are particularly susceptible to the toxic effects of mercury.
• Do not swallow mercury or touch it with bare hands. Use rubber gloves to keep the mercury out of skin contact.