Mercury Spills

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Mercury Spills
Marc Moss ENGR 435-001 November 24, 1998
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Outline
I. Facts II. Dangers III. Exposure IV.
Clean Up V. Disposal VI. Questions
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Mercury Facts

• Mercury is the most toxic non-radioactive
  element on earth
• A silver colored mercury amalgam filling
  normally contains 52 mercury.
• The typical adult carries ten amalgam fillings
  containing about 5 grams of mercury
• 1/2 gram of mercury in a ten acre lake would
  warrant issuance of a fish advisory for the
  lake

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Dangers of Mercury
The presence of raised mercury levels, in itself,
does not necessarily cause pathologic reactions -
the levels have to exceed a persons threshold
level.
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Dangers, continued

• Exposure in the range of 25 to 80 mg/m3 increases
  the incidence of
• defects in psychomotor performance
• objectively detectable tremors
• evidence of impaired nerve conduction
• fatigue
• irritability
• loss of appetite
• proteinuria

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Occupational Exposure
Occupational exposure to 25 mg Hg / m3 air would
correspond to a daily dose of somewhere about
100-200 mg / day (8 h / day, 5 days / week, 48
weeks / year, breathing of 1-2 m3 of air per hour
containing 25 (80) mg Hg / m3 of which 80 is
absorbed in the lung alveoli's).
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Concentrated Exposure

• Mercury can
• selectively inhibit protein and amino acid
  absorption into brain tissue
• induce the thyroid gland to absorb an increasing
  amount of nuclear radiation from the
  environment
• impair the adrenal and testicular steroid
  hormone secretions

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Exposure, continued

• cause intolerance for stress and decreased
  sexual ability
• in rats, it causes subnormal fertility and sperm
  production
• produce contact dermititis
• produce reduced function of the adrenal glands
  (Addison's disease), causing progressive
  anemia, low blood pressure, diarrhea and
  digestive disturbances

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Exposure, continued

• cause chromosomal aberrations and alter the
  cellular genetic code
• induce chromosomal breakage
• alter cellular mitosis
• cause a drop in T-cell production
• kill white blood cells.
• contribute to intelligence disturbances, speech
  difficulties, limb deformity, and hyperkinesia
  (hyperactivity resulting from brain damage)

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Exposure, continued
Studies have been done that suggest elevated
levels of mercury can trigger auto-immune
disorders (MS, ALS, Alzheimers)
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Cleaning It Up

• If available, use vacuum pump specifically
  designed for mercury spills
• Sweep mercury into jar filled with water
• Sprinkle area with sulfur powder or finely
  divided zinc and sweep up
• Adhesive tape strips can be used for small
  spills

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Disposal
The EPA has very strict restrictions on how to
dispose of mercury. At UTC, the chemistry
department will take the mercury, as they have
procedures in place to handle it. DONT THROW IT
IN THE TRASH OR DOWN THE DRAIN!!!
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