MERCURY TOXICITY

HOW MERCURY BECOME TOXIC ?...

Mercury can be found in a variety of medical devices. Mercury accumulates insidiously until it begins to destroy our body and brain. Mercury in any form is poisoning. Mercury toxicity most commonly affected the neurologic, gastro-intestinal and renal organ system.

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Where mercury devices are in use, the institution must have the responsibility of maintenance of health & safety measures. In order to prevent exposure mercury free alternative devices should be used wherever possible.

SOURCES
Fish from contaminated water Industrial mercury pollution Babies exposed in utero causes low birth weight , seizure disorders ,profound developmental delay , incomplete visual loss , hearing loss.

Mercury spill kit Latex or rubber gloves Goggles Two small pieces of stiff paper or cardboard Wide mouth plastic container with water Plastic bag Eye droper or syringe Torch light Adhesive tape

Mercury spill management

Open all ventilators, off electric heaters and air conditioner to prevent evaporation of mercury. Remove all ornaments and wrist watch. Put appropriate PPE,make mercury altogther and suck with an eye droper or syringe and put it in a plastic container with water. With the help of a torch light stick the remaining small pieces with a adhesive tape. Used gloves,cardboard,syringe,tape etc to put in a plastic bag. This bag and sealed mercury container must be inserted in another bag and label it as mercury waste.

Six things you should NEVER do

1. Never use a vacuum cleaner to clean up mercury: the vacuum cleaner will vaporise the mercury and drastically increase exposure in the area.
2. Never use a broom to clean up mercury: it breaks up the mercury droplets and moves them around, making it harder to decontaminate the area. 3. Never pour mercury down the drain: it can lodge in the plumbing, and contaminate the septic tank and sludge in sewage treatment plants.

4. Never wash mercury-contaminated items in a washing machine: mercury can contaminate the sewage system and the washing machine. 5. Never continue wearing shoes and clothing that might have been contaminated in the mercury spill: this increases the wearer's exposure and helps spread contamination. 6. Never burn shoes, clothing, fabric or anything that has been contaminated with mercury: this puts mercury into the atmosphere.