Rescuers collected the mercury from the jar with a medical syringe and asked the owner to dispose of it properly.
Rescuers remember that mercury is a toxic substance, the effect of which is manifested by inhalation of the vapors of the substance. Mercury must always be collected carefully and then the rooms must be ventilated. Collected mercury should be placed in a lockable container and taken to the local government’s hazardous waste collection point as soon as possible. Under no circumstances should mercury be thrown into the garbage or poured down the sink or toilet!
The Rescue Board also provides more detailed instructions on how to collect mercury.
There is no reason to panic if a measuring cup or light bulb breaks, because the amount of mercury in them is too small to cause serious consequences. However, since the long-term effect of even a small amount of mercury vapor is dangerous for humans, leaked mercury should be collected as soon as possible according to the following instructions.
1. Collect spilled mercury
Prevent other people (and pets!) from accessing the mercury spill area and ventilate the room. There are several ways to collect the substance, for this you can use a measuring cup, a syringe, a pipette or cotton swabs dipped in purple water. The mercury drops must be pushed together on the shovel with a scraper made of plastic, rubber, cardboard, etc. The use of a brush is not recommended, because it is difficult to sweep the mercury drops onto the blade with a brush and the drops break up into smaller drops when they come into contact with the brush.
Mercury drops can also be collected with a syringe (a syringe without a needle) or a pipette. Cotton swabs soaked in potassium permanganate solution (“purple water”) can also be used to collect droplets. Place the used cotton, syringe or pipette in a plastic bag. Do not throw in the garbage! When cleaning, avoid getting mercury on your body and clothing. Don’t spread pollution around! After collecting the substance, ventilate the room with fresh air!
Clothing, carpets and furniture contaminated with mercury must be aired outdoors for at least 24 hours! Mercury does not react with water (even hot water). If the degree slide breaks in a cup of hot water, let it cool and pour the mercury from the cup along with the water into a sealable container.
2. Place the collected mercury in a sealable container.
Place the previously collected mercury in a sealable container. To prevent the mercury collected in the container from evaporating, you can pour a layer of water at least 5 cm thick over the mercury and then close the container. Store the collected substance at a temperature below +20˚C.
3. Transport the mercury to a safe place.
Do not throw mercury in the garbage or pour it down the sink or toilet! Hazardous waste should be delivered to the local government hazardous waste collection point as soon as possible. Even the syringe, cotton ball, pipette, etc. used during cleaning must be taken to the hazardous waste collection point. Hazardous waste collection points are usually located near larger petrol stations. The collection of hazardous waste by residents is free. For information, contact the Municipality of your place of residence.
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2024-01-23 11:55:33
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