Is Mercury Toxic?

• What is mercury?
• Elemental or metallic mercury
• Methylmercury
• How much mercury is toxic?
• The health effects of mercury exposure
• How to clean up a mercury spill
• Why you must bring in specialist cleaners to clear up the spill
• Contact us today

Mercury is a very dangerous substance that could put your health at risk if it spills in your home. Lots of household goods contain mercury, like thermometers and barometers, and you must act quickly if they break.

Here at ICE Cleaning, we offer mercury spill clean up and disposal services. Our technicians are hazardous chemical clean up specialists that can handle any size and form of mercury spill. They are available nationwide and can be on site in several hours in emergency.

Keep reading to find out about mercury’s toxicity and what to do when it spills in your home.

What is mercury?

Mercury is a metallic element that is a neurotoxin. There are three different types of mercury: elemental, inorganic mercury compounds, and methylmercury.

Elemental or metallic mercury

This is a shiny, silver-white liquid at room temperature. When touched or dropped, it splits into small beads that can roll along surfaces and slip into small crevices. Elemental mercury evaporates into an invisible, odourless gas at room temperature which is very harmful to inhale.

Quicksilver, as it is also known, has historically been used in lots of household goods. However, many countries have phased out the use of mercury in such products due to the dangers associated with spills.

Methylmercury

It is formed when bacteria reacts with mercury in soil, water, and plants. It can be found in fish, shellfish, and some animals. Eating fish and meat that contains it can lead to mercury poisoning.

Symptoms of mercury poisoning including a loss of peripheral vision, impairment of speech and hearing, and muscular weakness. Pregnant women that consume it can put their unborn baby’s brain and nervous system at risk.

How much mercury is toxic?

Exposure to even small amounts of mercury can cause serious health problems. Blood mercury levels above 100 ng/mL are considered a sign of mercury poisoning.

The health effects of mercury exposure

As mercury vapour is invisible and odourless, you can easily inhale it without knowing it following a spill. Exposure to mercury can cause a range of health problems including:

• Emotional changes, like mood swings and nervousness
• Neuromuscular changes, such as weakness and twitching
• Insomnia
• Changes in sensations and nerve responses
• Headaches
• A cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing
• Eye, skin, and stomach irritation

High levels of mercury and long term exposure can have more severe effects such as kidney damage and respiratory failure, and may even prove fatal. You can find out more about the dangers of mercury exposure here.

How to clean up a mercury spill

Evacuate the area the mercury spilled in. Don’t let anyone walk through the spill as their shoes may get contaminated and could spread it around the property. Remove all pets from the area so they can’t tread in it, either.

Ventilate the room by opening windows to prevent the build up of mercury vapour. Close all doors and windows that lead to the rest of your home so the vapours don’t spread elsewhere. Make sure the heating is turned off to minimise the amount of vapour produced, too.

Next, contact specialist cleaners to clean up and dispose of the mercury. They can remove all traces of the mercury quickly and give you peace of mind that your home is safe, again. You can find out more about what to do when mercury spills in this blog.

Why you must bring in specialist cleaners to clear up the spill

Cleaning up mercury is very hazardous without the right equipment, training, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Firstly, cleaning up mercury is very dangerous as you will come in close contact with the chemical and are more likely to touch, ingest, or inhale it.

You may also not clean it up correctly. Every trace of the mercury needs to be cleaned up, including small beads, or your health could be at risk.

There is a chance you could make the situation worse, too. Using a vacuum cleaner to hoover the mercury, for example, can heat it up and encourage it to evaporate. Or, sweeping it up with a broom may spread it across a wider area.

Some spills are particularly challenging to clean up. Should mercury spill on carpet, for example, it can sink into it and be very hard to remove. The affected area must be cut out and disposed of.

Contact us today

Our fully trained specialist technicians can quickly decontaminate the area and dispose of the hazardous waste. They have been accredited by several organisations including SafeContractor, BICSc, and Dewpoint Professional, so you can trust them to restore your property to a safe home.

Get in touch with our team on 0208 066 0360 or send them an email at enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk to find out more about our mercury clean up services.