Introduction

Introduction

Mercury

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The Magic Metal- Mercury and It’s Hidden Dangers

Introduction• Developed for Western Wayne

County Fire Department Mutual Aid Association

• For– First Responders – Community

Introduction to Mercury• Mercury Physical

Properties• Mercury Exposure

and Health Effects• Who to Notify if a

Mercury Spill Occurs

• Mercury Spills: All Eyes on You

• Mercury Awareness Case Studies

Prevention and Reduction

• Mercury in Your Home

• Mercury in Schools• Mercury in

Healthcare Industry

• Mercury for Religious and Medicinal Purposes

• Mercury in Agriculture, Commerce, and Industry

• Mercury Disposal Options

Spill Response• Initial Actions• Small Spill

Information• Large Spill

Information• Resources and

Responsibilities

• Funding and Grants• Monitoring

Instruments• Air Sampling

Method and Equipment

• OSPPERA Quick Reference Guide

General Reference Information• Web Resources for Mercury

Information• Multi-Media Mercury Information• Boilerplate SOG’s on Mercury• Mercury Q & A• Contractor list• Check list

Play Video

Mercury- Periodic Table

What is mercury?• Naturally occurring metal• Shiny, silver-white• Odorless liquid at room temperature• Vapor is odorless and colorless• Insoluble in water

• Mercury is also known as “Quicksilver” or “Liquid Silver”

Types of mercury:• Elemental mercury• Inorganic mercury or mercury salt• Organic mercury (most commonly

from methyl mercury)

Physical Properties of Elemental Mercury:

• Symbol: Hg • Atomic mass:200.59• Boiling point:674.6• Freezing point:-38.2 • Specific gravity: 13.5• Vapor pressure:0.0012 mm Hg • Vapor density:6.93

Mercury Exposure and Health Effects

How can I be exposed to mercury?

• Common routes– Inhalation– Ingestion– absorption

• Common exposure pathways– Eating fish or

shellfish– vapors in air from

spills, incinerators, and industries

– Absorption through the skin

How can mercury affect my health?

• Short-term exposure– Lung damage, nausea, vomiting,

diarrhea, increases in blood pressure– heart rate, skin rashes, and eye irritation

Effects may be delayed.

How can mercury affect my health?

• Long-term exposure– Permanently damage the central

nervous system, kidneys, and developing fetuses.

– Symptoms may include irritability, tremors, weakness, cognitive disturbances, and memory problems

Is there a medical test to determine mercury exposure? • Blood or urine samples are used to

test for exposure to mercury

• For more information, visit www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts46.html

Who to Notify if a Mercury Spill Occurs

• Quick notification – first step in cleaning up the mercury

• Spill occurs – Business, Residence, environment

• “reportable quantity” of 1 pound– (slightly over 2 tablespoons)

Who to Notify if a Mercury Spill Occurs

• National Response Center– National Response Center:(800) 424-8802– EPA, USCG

• Michigan Department of Environmental Quality– 24 hour Pollution Emergency Alert System

(PEAS) (800) 292-4706• Local health department• Fire department

Mercury Awareness Case Studies


• 1989 Lincoln Park, Michigan– first residential mercury emergency

responses in U.S. EPA Region 5.– individual was smelting dental

amalgams in his home to recover silver– released high levels of mercury vapors– four adult residents died


• 1989 Lincoln Park, Michigan– Initial cleanup activities consisted of

using charcoal filters to remove mercury vapors from the air. After 1 month, 70 pounds of mercury were removed from the air, and the decision was made to demolish the house.

– total clean-up cost was more than $325,000.


• 1993 Nova, Ohio– rental property– family recently moved into– discovered mercury spilled throughout

the basement– mother was misinformed that mercury

was not dangerous as long they didn’t touch it


• 1993 Nova, Ohio– three children required chelation therapy.– 8 fluid ounces of mercury has spilled– All possessions in the house were disposed

of– treated with a mercury vapor suppressant– sealed with epoxy paint and the basement

floor was sealed with concrete.


• 1993 Nova, Ohio– 6 months, the house was heated and

vented to further reduce mercury vapor concentrations.

– family still suffers from long-term health effects

– total clean-up cost was more than $225,000


• 1999 Centreville, Michigan– foster family made numerous trips to the

hospital with 4- and 6-year-old children to diagnose unexplained symptoms

– Physician recognized the symptoms as possible mercury poisoning and tested other family members

– 6-year-old was placed in intensive care for over 1 month due to hypertension.


• 1999 Centreville, Michigan– EPA discovered mercury contamination

at the family’s residence.– Cleanup activities were conducted over

1 month and consisted of removing elemental mercury using a specialized vacuum, decontaminating and sealing affected areas of the basement, and heating and venting the house.


• 1999 Centreville, Michigan– total clean-up cost was approximately

$63,000


• 2002, Private Residence, Ohio– thermometer was dropped and broke on

a wooden floor, spreading mercury beads throughout the living room.

– husband and wife 6 months pregnant– 2-year old– husband cleaned up the visible mercury

• used his vacuum cleaner


• 2002, Private Residence, Ohio– vapor levels in the home exceeded the

safe limits– contractor recovered mercury beads

from the joints of the wooden floor– Mercury vapor suppressant chemicals

were used to clean the floor


• 2002, Private Residence, Ohio– family vacuum cleaner, an area rug, and

the shoes were discarded.– total cleanup cost was less than $1,000

Introduction

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Transcript of Introduction