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I recently broke an old thermometer and was wondering, what is the best way to clean up after a mercury spill?
The proper clean up of mercury spills is extremely important. Mercury is a highly toxic chemical that poses a threat to you and your family. It has been known to lead to memory problems, lung, kidney and liver damage, birth defects and more.
Improperly disposed mercury can also make its way into our water, poisoning fish and other wildlife, who then pass on high levels of mercury to larger predators. According to the Clean Air Council, "Mercury from a single thermometer is enough to contaminate a lake to the point where the fish are unsafe to eat!" The fact sheet from their Mercury Campaign makes the following recommendations for cleaning up a spill...
Clean Quickly, but Safely
It is important to clean up mercury spills relatively quickly, as mercury is a "slippery" substance than can bead up and spread pretty quickly. Like water, it will also eventually evaporate, and even the small amount of mercury in a thermometer can lead to dangerous levels of mercury in the air. You don't want to rush and be unsafe when cleaning up a spill, but you should not put off attending to the matter.
It's a good idea to open the windows to let any evaporated mercury escape, and to turn off the heat if the spill occurs during the winter, as heat causes liquids to evaporate quicker. Please do not touch the mercury directly with your skin, and do not use a broom, vacuum or mop to clean it up. Anything that touches the spill should be considered contaminated.
The Kitchen Floor Is Easy
If the spill occurred on a hard surface, you can use a flashlight to locate all the little beads, as mercury is a very reflective substance. You can use an eyedropper to suck up the larger beads. Put them into an empty baby food jar, yogurt container, or some other closeable container that you don't mind saying "bye-bye" to. Smaller beads can be picked up with tape. Stick the tape right into the container. Once everything is up, seal the container tightly.
Put the container, along with the eyedropper, into a plastic bag. It's a good idea to use plastic gloves during this entire process. Carefully remove the gloves, place them into the bag, and then tie it tightly. Label the bag "Mercury Waste" and put it someplace out of the reach of children and pets.
Other Areas Get a Little Tricky
If the thermometer broke in a sink, you should follow the same procedure for any mercury left in the basin. If some went down the drain, it should be caught in the sink trap. Do not pour water down after it. You will need to carefully remove the entire trap, and dispose of it in a tightly sealed container or bag with the rest of the mercury waste.
If the spill occurred on a carpet or rug, you are really out of luck. You will need to cut out the section of carpeting that is contaminated and carefully seal it as described above. That may sound extreme, but the dangers to your health and the health of your family from letting it stick around your home are considerably worse.
Under no circumstances should you simply throw out the contaminated materials in the trash. That puts sanitation workers at risk, and will almost definitely lead to the mercury escaping into the air or water. Keep your "mercury waste" fun bag safe and secure until you can bring it to a household hazardous waste drop-off. Scan your local newspaper or contact your local government to find out when the next drop-off event is coming to your area.
While you're at it, you might as well bring any remaining mercury thermometers you have at home. Mercury thermometers are an unnecessary risk with so many cheap and efficient digital thermometers now available at drug stores everywhere. (Some hospitals actually offer free swaps for new digital thermometers, but it's well worth the five or ten bucks to just go out and buy one yourself if programs like that aren't easy to find.)
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