Mercury: interesting facts. Toxic metal in everyday life: why mercury is dangerous

mercury poisoning- one of the most serious consequences of intoxication of the human body. Exposure to mercury adversely affects the health of people of all ages. Fearing irreparable harm, people often panic when they break a mercury thermometer used in everyday life. This article is devoted to the manifestations of acute and chronic intoxication with liquid mercury and the ways in which a toxic substance enters human organs and tissues.

Characteristics of mercury

Mercury is an element classified as hazard class I. It is a transition metal, which is a silvery-white liquid with a large mass. In the vapor state, it is extremely toxic at a room temperature of 14-25 degrees. By itself, metallic mercury does not poison the human body, unlike vapors and soluble compounds, especially organic ones, which belong to the group of cumulative poisons. Even a very small dose of mercury can lead to serious disturbances in the functioning of the body and cause harm to health.

The metal poisons the entire body, especially strongly affects the gastrointestinal tract, immune, respiratory and nervous systems, kidneys, liver, skin and eyes. Despite the toxicity of mercury, it is actively used in various areas of the national economy. The most familiar device to us is a mercury thermometer for measuring body temperature, which is in every home.

Fortunately, mercury poisoning from a broken thermometer does not happen often, they can be detected in family members where elementary safety rules are not followed, thermometers are damaged regularly and the room is not disinfected. In this case, the manifestation of chronic symptoms is possible. Acute poisoning occurs when several fluorescent energy-saving light bulbs are broken.

Mercury in everyday life

In everyday life, a person rarely comes into contact with mercury, especially rarely it is found in concentrations that can cause serious damage to all organs and systems.

• Mercury is used in the energy sector in the manufacture of mercury-galvanic batteries, in metallurgical plants in the smelting of metals and the processing of secondary aluminum, as a reagent in chemical processes, in agriculture in the treatment of pesticides - in these cases, metal intoxication is possible in people of certain professions employed in these industries .
• Previously, dentists used silver amalgam. After the use of photopolymer filling materials containing hundreds of milligrams of poisonous metal, fillings fell into disuse.
• From 1 to 70 mg of mercury is contained in metal vapor in fluorescent lamps, since it is they that glow during glow discharges.
• Due to the very good thermal conductivity in medicine, up to two grams of liquid metal is used as a thermometer filler. In addition, mercury does not wet the glass, the readings obtained are very accurate, the error does not exceed 0.01°C.
• Seafood tends to accumulate elemental mercury and its compounds, the amount of a harmful toxic substance can be several hundred times higher than its content in water. You need to know that no seafood processing technology reduces the amount of mercury.

As you can see, in everyday life it is very difficult if you do not violate the safety rules. But many people make a serious mistake by bringing mechanisms and devices containing toxic metal into the house or into technical rooms. If stored improperly or disassembled, you can get yourself seriously poisoned and harm the health of family members. In rare cases, symptoms of chronic mercury intoxication are noted in people who bought contaminated second homes and were unaware of the danger that threatened them. In the event that mercury-containing devices are broken, it is necessary to act quickly and prudently, to follow the prescribed actions in order to minimize the consequences of a negative impact on health.

The specific effect of mercury vapor on the human body

If you breathe air in which there is a lot of mercury vapor (up to 0.25 mg / m³), ​​then soon the metal will accumulate in the tissues of the lungs. If the concentration level is higher, even intact skin does not protect the body - the metal is absorbed through it. Depending on the time and duration of mercury entry into organs and tissues, as well as on the amount of metal that has penetrated, doctors determine acute and chronic poisoning. Micromercurialism belongs to a separate category.

Symptoms of mercury vapor poisoning

Acute form of the disease

The first symptoms of acute intoxication with mercury vapor can be noted after two hours:

• a person becomes very weak;
• headache;
• loss of desire to eat;
• painful swallowing;
• feeling of metal in the mouth;
• copious saliva;
• swollen gums bleed;
• feeling .

Somewhat later, the following signs appear:

• increasing pain in the abdomen, mucous diarrhea with blood;
• the tissues of the organs of the respiratory system become inflamed, it is difficult for a person to breathe, a cough appears, the patient complains of chest pain, feels chills;
• body temperature reaches 38-40 ° C;
• mercury is found in the analysis of urine.

These signs of mercury intoxication are common to all ages. But in small patients, the processes are faster, the observed clinical picture is more vivid. Children require prompt medical intervention.

chronic poisoning

Mercurialism is a general intoxication as a result of prolonged exposure (more than two months) to vapors and mercury compounds, the concentration of which is significantly higher than the norm. Symptoms depend on the degree of damage to the body:

• severe fatigue;
• constant drowsiness with regular sleep;
• weakness;
• dizziness and headaches;
• emotional instability.

A person becomes irritable, memory weakens, attention decreases. After a while, there is a "mercury tremor" of the fingers, lips and eyelids, arising from excitement. Frequent urge to defecate and urinate is noted, the sense of smell, tactile sensitivity, taste are dulled, the person sweats a lot. An increase in the thyroid gland is noticeable, the heart rhythm is disturbed, and blood pressure decreases.

Micromercurialism - chronic intoxication with the listed signs, is the result of constant exposure to small doses of mercury over a long period of time (5 years or more).

Consequences of mercury poisoning

• If timely medical care is not provided, acute intoxication leads to the death of a person.
• With chronic mercury poisoning, a person is not able to lead a normal life, people become disabled, in particular, psychologically.
• Mercury is most harmful to pregnant women, since if the metal enters the body of a future mother, there is a high risk of damage to the fetus and the birth of a sick child.

Is it possible to detect excess concentrations of mercury vapor in the room?

If a situation arises that carries real or possible risks of increasing the amount of mercury vapor in the room, you need to submit an application to an accredited laboratory, whose specialists will take measurements (the norm is for 0.0003 mg / m³). Household tests are being carried out to help estimate the amount of mercury in the premises. They are paper impregnated with selenium sulfide or copper iodide, which show within 8-10 hours whether the norm is exceeded. They are available in the CIS countries, the approximate price is 150 rubles.

Treatment

Complex differentiated therapy of acute poisoning is carried out in a hospital, while taking into account the identified pathologies. Chronic intoxication can be treated on an outpatient and inpatient basis, treatment in a sanatorium and a change in activity are indicated. Specific drugs are: , taurine, dimercaptosuccinic acid and others.

Prevention

• If you broke a thermometer or a fluorescent light bulb, you need to carry out a full range of measures aimed at eliminating the consequences.
• People who work in factories that use mercury need to rinse their mouths with a solution of permanganate and potassium chlorate throughout the shift and at the end of the day.
• After mercury enters the body, drink a few eggs, protein is a good adsorbent.

Few people think about how dangerous mercury is until it comes to an accidentally broken thermometer or fluorescent lamp. In order not to panic in such cases, it is important to know what this substance is, what effect it has on the body and how to protect yourself from poisoning.

Few people think about how dangerous mercury is until it comes to an accidentally broken thermometer or fluorescent lamp.

What is mercury and what is its effect

Mercury belongs to the group of heavy metals and at room temperature is a dense silvery liquid. It is the only metal capable of being liquid at room temperature. The melting point of mercury is -38°C, the boiling point is 356°C. The substance is extremely dangerous: if it enters the human body, mercury can cause poisoning, even death.

By itself, the metal is practically not toxic, but the toxicity of mercury instantly increases when it enters the environment familiar to humans. At room temperature, the substance immediately begins to evaporate, and this is the most poisonous form.

Among the factors that increase the danger of this substance, they note the complete absence of smell (a person may not notice for a long time that he is breathing mercury vapor) and the ability to accumulate in the body for years, practically not excreted through the excretory organs.

How to properly collect mercury (video)

Use of mercury in the home

Until 1970, people did not know how bad mercury was for health, and they used it in many areas, especially in medicine: from making dental fillings to manufacturing medicines.

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Due to the danger to humans, today the use of the substance in everyday life is minimized. But still, sometimes you can't do without it. Mercury is used in the manufacture of thermometers - due to its high thermal conductivity and ability not to wet glass, such thermometers provide high accuracy of readings.

Mercury belongs to the group of heavy metals and at room temperature is a dense silvery liquid.

This poisonous metal is used in energy-saving gas discharge lamps and in medicine as a preservative for vaccines. We must not forget that some types of seafood are able to accumulate elemental mercury from their environment, and their consumption can be dangerous: in the body of shellfish and some fish, the concentration of the metal can be several times higher than in the water itself.

When used properly in everyday life, metal is not dangerous to people. Basically, poisoning occurs when safety standards are not observed in the workplace associated with mercury, or when devices or mechanisms containing this substance appear in residential premises. Such actions are extremely dangerous, and their consequences can be fatal.

Types of poisoning and their symptoms

At a high concentration of mercury vapor in the air (up to 0.25 mg/m3), it begins to be absorbed through the respiratory system. If its content exceeds this value, then absorption can occur directly through the skin, even intact. A lethal dose of mercury is inhalation of 2.5 g or more of toxic fumes.

What to do if the thermometer crashed: how to collect mercury from the skin and floor

With a single ingestion of high doses of toxic fumes, acute poisoning develops. The first symptoms appear after 1-2 hours: weakness, headache, metallic taste in the mouth, pain when swallowing, salivation, lack of appetite. A little later, systemic symptoms also appear: cough, difficulty breathing due to inflammation of the respiratory tract, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, temperature up to 40 ° C. Medical intervention is necessary already at the first signs, especially when it comes to children - in them the clinical picture of poisoning, as a rule, develops faster. In the absence of timely assistance, death occurs within a few days.

Chronic poisoning occurs with prolonged (two months or more) contact with small doses. A broken thermometer is dangerous because uncleaned mercury can be divided into very small balls and imperceptibly poison all living things that are in this room. It does not smell, and people may not guess for a long time what is happening to their health.

When used properly in everyday life, metal is not dangerous to people.

Symptoms of mercurialism, as chronic poisoning with this substance is also called, are manifested by constant severe fatigue, inability to sleep even with a normal sleep pattern, frequent dizziness and headaches, and weakness. At later stages, the so-called mercury tremor develops - trembling of the limbs, lips and eyelids. Sweating increases, the sense of smell and tactile sensitivity become dull.

Not knowing how dangerous mercury is, a person may not associate these symptoms with a broken thermometer, for example, six months ago and treat the consequences for years, not knowing the real reason.

Chronic forms of poisoning are dangerous because, in addition to somatic abnormalities, mental ones also appear against its background. The person becomes emotionally unstable, irritable, has problems with memory. In this state, people are unable to lead a normal life, and the combination of these symptoms, which worsen over time, often leads to disability, both physical and mental.

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For the treatment of chronic forms of mercury intoxication, in addition to hospitalization, they may prescribe a sanatorium course or even recommend changing the field of activity.

Mercury poisoning (video)

What to do with indoor mercury

The most common causes of contact with toxic metal in everyday life are a broken mercury thermometer or a fluorescent lamp. The amount of mercury in these devices is not deadly, but in order to avoid poisoning, it is necessary to start getting rid of the toxic substance as soon as possible.

1. Remove people and animals from the premises.
2. Close the door, open the window to ventilate the room as much as possible, but do not allow a draft. Metal fumes from the thermometer should not get into other rooms. It will be necessary to ventilate the room for about a week after removing visible mercury.
3. Put on a respirator or gauze mask, rubber gloves on your hands.
4. Carefully collect fragments of a thermometer or lamp and put them in an airtight bag.
5. Point the lamp at the place where the mercury from the thermometer is spilled - the glare on the surface of the metal balls will not let you miss any of them.
6. It is better to collect mercury with a brush or a brush with an amalgamation coating, but not everyone will have one at hand. For collection, you can use pipettes, syringes, paper napkins, wet newspapers, and for the smallest droplets - adhesive tape or adhesive tape.
7. The collected volume of metal should also be hermetically sealed and, together with a broken thermometer, be handed over to the Ministry of Emergency Situations for disposal.

The first information about compounds containing mercury comes to us from time immemorial. Aristotle mentions it for the first time in 350 BC, but archaeological finds speak of an earlier date of application. The main areas of use of mercury were medicine, painting and architecture, the manufacture of Venetian mirrors, metal processing, etc. People found out its properties only experimentally, which required a lot of time and cost many lives. The fact that mercury is dangerous to humans has been known since the beginning of its use. Modern methods and methods of research are much more efficient and safer, but still people do not know much about this metal.

Chemical element

Under normal conditions, mercury is a heavy liquid of a white-silver color; its belonging to metals was proved by M.V. Lomonosov and I.A. Braun in 1759. Scientists have proved that in the solid state of aggregation it is electrically conductive and can be forged. Mercury (Hydrargyrum, Hg) in the periodic system of D. I. Mendeleev has atomic number 80, is located in the sixth period, group 2 and belongs to the zinc subgroup. Translated from Latin, the name literally means "silver water", from Old Russian - "roll". The uniqueness of the element lies in the fact that it is the only one that is found in nature in a diffuse form and occurs in the form of compounds. A drop of mercury rolling down a rock is an impossible phenomenon. The molar mass of the element is 200 g/mol, the radius of the atom is 157 pm.

Properties

At a temperature of 20 o C, the specific gravity of mercury is 13.55 g / cm 3, -39 o C is needed for the melting process, 357 o C for boiling, -38.89 o C for freezing. Increased saturated vapor pressure gives a high evaporation rate . As the temperature rises, mercury vapor becomes the most dangerous for living organisms, and water or any other liquid is not an obstacle for this process. The most demanded property in practice is obtaining an amalgam, which is formed as a result of the dissolution of the metal in mercury. With its large amount, the alloy is obtained in a semi-liquid state of aggregation. Mercury is easily released from the compound, which is used in the process of extracting precious metals from ore. Metals such as tungsten, iron, molybdenum, vanadium cannot be amalgamated. In chemical terms, mercury is a fairly stable element that easily goes into a native state and reacts with oxygen only at high temperatures (300 o C). When interacting with acids, dissolution occurs only in nitric acid and metallic mercury is oxidized by sulfur or potassium permanganate. It actively reacts with halogens (iodine, bromine, fluorine, chlorine) and non-metals (selenium, phosphorus, sulfur). Organic compounds with a carbon atom (alkyl-mercury) are the most stable and are formed in natural conditions. Methylmercury is considered one of the most toxic short-chain organometallic compounds. In this state, mercury poses the highest danger to humans.

Being in nature

If we consider mercury as a mineral that is used in many industries and areas of human economic activity, then this is a rather rare metal. According to experts, the surface layer of the earth's crust contains only 0.02% of the total amount of the mentioned element. The largest part of mercury and its compounds is found in the waters of the World Ocean and is dispersed in the atmosphere. Recent studies show that the Earth's mantle contains a large content of this element. In accordance with this statement, such a thing as the "mercury breath of the Earth" arose. It consists in the process of degassing with further evaporation from the surface. The greatest release of mercury occurs at the time of volcanic eruptions. In the future, natural and man-made emissions are included in the cycle, which occurs due to the connection with other elements under favorable natural conditions. The process of formation and decay of mercury vapor is poorly understood, but the most likely hypothesis is the participation of certain types of bacteria in it. But the main problem is methyl and demethyl derivatives, which are actively formed in nature - in the atmosphere, water (bottom muddy areas or sectors of the greatest pollution with organic substances) - without the participation of catalysts. Methylmercury has a very high affinity for biological molecules. What is dangerous about mercury is the possibility of accumulation in any living organism due to the ease of penetration and adaptation.

Place of Birth

There are more than 100 mercury-containing and mercury minerals, but the main compound that ensures the profitability of mining is cinnabar. In percentage terms, it has the following structure: sulfur 12-14%, mercury 86-88%, while native mercury, fahlore, metacinnabarite, etc. are associated with the main sulfide mineral. The sizes of cinnabar crystals reach 3-5 cm (maximum), the most common ones are 0.1-0.3 mm in size and may contain impurities of zinc, silver, arsenic, etc. (up to 20 elements). There are about 500 ore sites in the world, the deposits of Spain, Slovenia, Italy, Kyrgyzstan are the most productive. Two main methods are used for ore processing: oxidation at high temperature with the release of mercury and enrichment of the initial material with subsequent processing of the resulting concentrate.

Areas of use

Due to the fact that the danger of mercury has been proven, its use in medicine has been limited since the 70s of the XX century. An exception is merthiolate, which is used to preserve vaccines. Silver amalgam is still found in dentistry today, but is being actively replaced by reflective fillings. The most widespread use of hazardous metal is recorded in the creation of instruments and precision instruments. Mercury vapor is used to operate fluorescent and quartz lamps. In this case, the result of exposure depends on the coating of the light-transmitting body. Due to the unique heat capacity, metallic mercury is in demand in the production of high-precision measuring instruments - thermometers. The alloys are used to make position sensors, bearings, hermetic switches, electric actuators, valves, etc. Biocidal paints also previously contained mercury and were used to coat ship hulls to prevent fouling. The chemical industry uses salts of this element in large volumes as a catalyst for the release of acetaldehyde. Sublimate and calomel are used to treat seed stock - toxic mercury protects grain and seeds from pests. In metallurgy, amalgams are most in demand. Mercury compounds are often used as an electrolytic catalyst for the production of chlorine, alkali and active metals. Gold miners use this chemical element to process ore. Mercury and its compounds are used in jewelry, in the production of mirrors and in aluminum recycling.

Toxicity (why mercury is dangerous)

As a result of man-made human activity in the environment around us, the concentration of toxic substances and pollutants increases. One of these elements, indicated in the first positions in terms of toxicity, is mercury. The danger to humans is represented by its organic and inorganic compounds and vapors. This is a cumulative highly toxic poison that can accumulate in the human body for years or act at a time. The central nervous system, the enzymatic and hematopoietic systems are affected, and the degree and outcome of poisoning depend on the dose and method of penetration, the toxicity of the compound, and the time of exposure. Chronic mercury poisoning (accumulation of a substance in the body) is characterized by the presence of asthenovegetative syndrome, a violation of the nervous system. The first signs are: trembling of the eyelids, fingertips, and then the limbs, tongue and whole body. With the further development of poisoning, insomnia, headaches, nausea, disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, neurasthenia, and memory are disturbed. If mercury vapor poisoning occurs, then the characteristic symptoms are respiratory diseases. With continued exposure, the excretory system fails, which can lead to death.

Mercury salt poisoning

The fastest and most difficult process. Symptoms: headache, metallic taste, bleeding gums, stomatitis, increased urination with its gradual reduction and complete cessation. In severe form, damage to the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and liver is characteristic. If a person survives, he will forever remain disabled. The action of mercury leads to the precipitation of proteins and hemolysis of red blood cells. Against the background of these symptoms, irreversible damage to the central nervous system occurs. An element such as mercury poses a danger to humans in any form of interaction, and the consequences of poisoning can be irreparable: affecting the entire body, they can affect the next generations.

Methods of penetration of poison

The main sources of poisoning are air, water, food. Mercury can be inhaled through the evaporation of a substance from a surface. The skin and the gastrointestinal tract have good throughput. For poisoning, it is enough to swim in a reservoir that is polluted with industrial discharges containing mercury; eat foods with a high content of a chemical element that can get into them from infected biological species (fish, meat). Mercury vapor poisoning is obtained, as a rule, as a result of professional activity - in case of non-compliance with safety precautions in the industries associated with this element. Is no exception and poisoning in domestic conditions. This occurs with improper use of devices and tools containing mercury and its compounds.

The danger of mercury from a thermometer

The most commonly used high-precision medical instrument is a thermometer, which is available in every home. Under normal household conditions, most people do not have access to highly toxic compounds that contain mercury. "They broke the thermometer" - this is the most likely situation of interaction with poison. Most of our compatriots still use mercury thermometers. This is primarily due to the accuracy of their testimony and the distrust of the population in new technologies. If the thermometer is damaged, mercury, of course, poses a danger to humans, but illiteracy poses an even greater threat. If you quickly, efficiently and effectively carry out a series of simple manipulations, then harm to health, if any, is minimal.

Stage 1

First of all, you need to collect all the parts of the broken thermometer and mercury. This is the most time-consuming process, but the health of all family members and pets depends on its implementation. For proper disposal, it is necessary to take a glass vessel, which must be hermetically sealed. Before starting work, all residents are removed from the premises, it is best to go outside or into another room where there is the possibility of constant ventilation. The process of collecting droplets of mercury cannot be performed with a vacuum cleaner or a broom. The latter can crush larger metal fractions and provide a larger area for their distribution. When working with a vacuum cleaner, the danger lies in the process of heating the engine during operation, and the effect of temperature will accelerate the evaporation of particles, and after that this household appliance cannot be used for its intended purpose, it will only have to be disposed of.

Sequencing

1. Put on a disposable medical mask, shoe covers or plastic bags on shoes.
2. Carefully inspect the place where the thermometer was broken; if there is a possibility of mercury getting on textiles, clothes, carpets, then they are hermetically packed in a garbage bag and disposed of.
3. Glass parts are collected in a prepared container.
4. Large droplets of mercury are collected from the floor surface using a sheet of paper, a needle or knitting needles.
5. Armed with a flashlight or increasing the illumination of the room, it is necessary to expand the search for smaller particles (due to the color of the metal, it is easy to find).
6. Floor cracks, joints of parquet, plinth are carefully examined to exclude the possible ingress of smaller drops.
7. In hard-to-reach places, mercury is collected with a syringe, which is later to be disposed of.
8. Small drops of metal can be collected with adhesive tape, plaster.
9. During the entire time of work, it is necessary to go to a ventilated room or to the street every 20 minutes.
10. All items and improvised means used in the collection of mercury must be disposed of along with the contents of the thermometer.

Stage 2

After careful mechanical assembly, it is necessary to chemically treat the room. You can use potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) - a solution of high concentration (dark color) in the amount necessary for the cultivated area. Be sure to wear new rubber gloves and a mask. All surfaces are treated with the resulting solution with a rag, and existing recesses, cracks, cracks and joints are best filled with a solution. For the next 10 hours, it is better to leave the surface intact. After the specified time, the potassium permanganate solution is washed off with clean water, then cleaning is carried out using detergents throughout the apartment. For the next 6-7 days, it is imperative to carry out regular ventilation of the room and daily wet cleaning. To make sure that there is no mercury, you can invite specialists with special equipment from centers of epidemiology.

Treatment methods for intoxication

WHO identifies the 8 most dangerous substances, the content of which in the atmosphere, food and water should be carefully monitored, due to their danger to human life and health. These are lead, cadmium, arsenic, tin, iron, copper, zinc and, of course, mercury. The hazard class of these elements is very high, and the consequences of poisoning with them cannot be stopped completely. The basis of treatment is to protect a person from further contact with the poison. In mild and non-chronic cases of mercury poisoning, it is excreted from the body with feces, urine, and sweat. The toxic dose is 0.4 ml, the lethal dose is from 100 mg. If you suspect an interaction with poison, you should contact a specialist who, based on the results of the tests, will determine the degree of intoxication and prescribe therapy.

Instruction

The paper is cut into strips (the size is unimportant, but for convenience it is better to be small), dipped in a solution of copper salt, after which it is removed, dried a little, and dipped in a solution of iodine salt. The resulting copper iodide will be mainly in the pores of the filter paper, and iodine will be on the surface, because of it the paper will “turn brown”. After that, the strips are placed in a solution of sodium sulfite (hyposulfite). The iodine is removed (this can be seen from the discoloration of the paper). The strips should be washed in clean water and dried. They are ready. It is advisable to store them in a dark place, in a closed container.

If it is suspected that there are couples mercury, you need to put one strip in each checked room. After a few hours, we check if their color has changed. If it turns pinkish red, this is a signal. So there is in the air! Measures must be taken to locate and remove the source of this poison.

Useful advice

Mercury vapor is extremely toxic, causing severe diseases of a number of organs of the human body. Many residents and guests of St. Petersburg, admiring St. Isaac's Cathedral, do not even suspect that several dozen people involved in gilding its dome have died or become disabled, because the amalgam method (using mercury) was used in this work. Even a single mercury thermometer broken in an apartment can cause trouble. Moreover, mercury vapor is odorless and for the time being does not remind anything of itself.

Sources:

• mercury definition

Mercury is a unique element, because it is a metal that is in liquid form under normal conditions! There are no more such metals in the entire periodic table. Mercury vapor is extremely toxic and leads to severe poisoning, therefore, it is very important to detect their presence in the air in time! After all, the special insidiousness of this element is that for the time being, its negative influence does not manifest itself in any way.

You will need

• - filtered paper;
• - copper salt;
• - a solution of potassium iodide.

Instruction

Take filter paper (preferably with large pores), any soluble copper salt, for example, vitriol, a solution of potassium iodide and a solution of sodium hyposulfite (aka sodium thiosulfate, was widely used as a component of a "fixer" in photography).

Cut the paper into rectangular strips of size, for example, 2x5 cm. Dip these strips in a solution of copper sulphate. Then, after drying a little, dip them in a solution of potassium iodide. The paper will quickly turn brown.

After that, rinse the strips in a solution of sodium hyposulfite. The paper will discolor. After washing in clean water and drying, the strips are ready for use. They should be stored in a dark, tightly closed container.

Now you can safely proceed to demercurization. Demercurization is a preventive measure. There are several ways to adopt: Now more and more kits are appearing that neutralize household mercury pollution. Attached will help you do everything right, step by step. This kit should be kept in the first aid kit.

If you do not have a demercurization kit, then collect large balls in a paper envelope. Pick up smaller balls with a rubber band, and collect the smallest droplets with duct tape or a damp swab. Close the collected mercury tightly in a jar. Then thoroughly wash the floor and treat it with a solution of potassium permanganate.

If mercury has got into places where it is difficult to extract it, then use the old method - cover them with sulfur. If you do not have sulfur, then use a thin metal plate and stick it into the slots. Balloons mercury"attract".

If mercury gets on soft things, then shake them out, and then ventilate them in the air for 4 months.

After extraction mercury need to wash the floor. The most affordable and effective way is a solution of soap and soda (500 g of soap, 600 g of soda per 8 liters of water). Effectively treat the floor and walls with a 1% iodine solution, which can be obtained by buying a 10% iodine solution from a pharmacy, and dilute it in a proportion of 100 ml per 1 liter of water. It would also be good to rinse the surface with any chlorine-containing agent.

note

Important! Do not collect balls of mercury in one large ball.

Don't vacuum! The vacuum cleaner, heating up, increases the area of ​​evaporation of mercury, and drops that have fallen into it will then spread in the form of vapors.

Useful advice

And remember! Never dispose of mercury in trash cans or toilets.

In a well-closed glass jar, take the mercury to the SES.

To determine the humidity pair modern specialists often use specialized devices based on the mechanical separation of water, on overheating with the help of electric current, etc. But how to determine humidity pair if such devices are not available at hand?

You will need

• - two thermometers (liquid mercury);
• - a small piece of gauze;
• - vessel;
• - table for determining the dew point;
• - psychrometric table.

Instruction

Method One Take a small sample into a pre-prepared sealed vessel. Cool the container with the contents. When cooling the air in the vessel, it is necessary to constantly monitor the entire process so as not to miss the moment when dew drops appear on the walls of the vessel.

Determine the density of the saturated pair corresponding to the measured temperature. The resulting figure will show the absolute humidity pair.

Method Two Take two prepared thermometers. Wrap the vial of one of them, which contains mercury, with several layers of gauze. Dip the wrapped part in water and take it out into the air. Wait until the temperature registers on the thermometers. It should be known that the temperature on a wet bulb will be lower than on a dry one. Write down and find their difference.

Find the column in the table with the value shown by the dry bulb thermometer. You can take the most value in the table, if there is no exact one. Swipe up to the intersection of the columns, in which there is a figure corresponding to the calculated temperature difference.

Find humidity pair, multiplying the found relative humidity(φ) to the density of the saturated pair(ρn) and dividing the result by 100%, that is, according to the formula: ρ = φ *ρn / 100%

Body poisoning. Just in case, you should know what to do when the lamp or broken.

Collection of mercury

Symptoms of mercury vapor poisoning

Treatment

In the treatment of mercury poisoning, modern drugs are used to eliminate this metal from the body. Among them are: Unithiol, Taurine, Succimer, Methionine, Allithiamin. The doctor selects drugs depending on the poisoning, the severity of the symptoms and the tolerance of the patient's body to certain substances. If a person is mercury or its salts, then you must first cleanse the body of the remnants of the ingested substance. It will be required, without waiting for the arrival of emergency medical care, to urgently induce vomiting. In this case, it will be possible to reduce the negative impact of the metal. It is important to remember that mercury is not excreted from the body on its own, but tends to accumulate in it, and this will subsequently lead to death.

One of the most dangerous and serious intoxications of the human body is mercury poisoning, which carries a huge list of harmful, negative consequences for health and life. This condition causes severe panic in children and adults, especially when an emergency occurs, namely, it breaks.

Mercury poisoning is a direct threat to human life, has negative consequences for health. It is very important to provide urgent medical assistance and treat the victim. In such cases, it is necessary to act in an organized and fast manner, it is necessary to know what and how to do in order to avoid tragic consequences and death.

Mercury and its characteristics

Mercury is a dangerous, poisonous transition metal. Metallic mercury has no effect on humans, but its vapors and organic compounds are very toxic and poisonous. Mercury is considered a cumulative poison.

A small amount of such a substance can cause serious problems and consequences regarding health. Toxins have a negative effect on the eyes, skin, digestive and nervous systems, liver, lungs, kidneys. Such poisoning is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms that are associated with the defeat of the above organs. If the first signs of poisoning are detected, urgent medical treatment is required.

The best-known mercury instrument is the human body temperature thermometer, which can cause ill health and death if broken.

Symptoms

Mercury vapor poisoning is quite difficult and acute. The first symptoms of mercury poisoning may include:

• weakness, lethargy of the body;
• severe nausea;
• frequent and profuse vomiting;
• gums suffer, namely, they begin to swell, bleed heavily, become sensitive;
• constant dizziness;
• there is a metallic taste in the mouth;
• there is increased salivation;
• severe, excruciating, paroxysmal headache;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• pain in the throat;
• there is a complete lack of appetite.

A little later, the signs of mercury poisoning appear in the following ways:

• body temperature rises to 40 degrees;
• mercury can be detected in the urine (during examination);
• severe, cramping pain in the abdomen that does not stop;
• frequent diarrhea with blood;
• fever;
• impaired breathing, dry cough, shortness of breath develops;
• severe chills;
• pain in the chest.

Mercury vapor is highly toxic and dangerous, causing the symptoms and effects described above. The symptoms are similar in both adults and children. The difference lies in the fact that the child develops clinical manifestations and consequences much faster and stronger. In such cases, urgent treatment and medical care are required, on which the future life of a person depends. You must do everything quickly, clearly and deliberately, and most importantly, do not panic.

chronic poisoning

Chronic manifests itself a little differently, and also has a special name - mercurialism. A similar phenomenon can develop from prolonged exposure to mercury vapor, namely about two to five months or several years. Requires timely medical treatment and constant monitoring of specialists. It is necessary to do certain manipulations to prevent the disease.

Chronic mercury poisoning manifests itself in the following ways:

• severe fatigue;
• increased drowsiness;
• frequent migraine attacks;
• dizziness, possible fainting;
• apathy, muscle weakness;
• failures and weakening of memory;
• development of mercury tremor;
• increased sweating;
• charm worsens;
• low pressure;
• enlargement of the thyroid gland;
• development of emotional disorders: fear, indifference, shyness, depression, increased irritability.

There is also such a phenomenon as micromercurialism - this is chronic poisoning, which has the above signs of manifestation, arising from the constant exposure of mercury and its vapors to the human body, for at least five to ten years.

Mercury poisoning has the following serious consequences for life and health:

• If there is no timely treatment and medical care, the disease ends in death.
• If chronic poisoning prevails, a normal life ends, as a person becomes a psychological invalid.
• A serious threat, such an ailment, carries a pregnant woman / girl. There is a high risk of intrauterine pathology.

Emergency care and prevention

When signs and symptoms are detected, you must do whatever it takes to get the victim back to health. Next, we will analyze how to remove mercury from the body. Your actions should be clear and consistent:

1. call the clinic, call the doctor;
2. take the victim out into the air, ensure a full flow of oxygen (after all, they are poisoned by mercury vapor);
3. it is necessary to rinse the nose, mouth, eyes, open skin using a weak solution;
4. in the absence of signs of life - you need to do an indirect heart massage, artificial respiration;
5. lavage the stomach with a probe using saline or manganese solution to remove mercury;
6. induce vomiting;
7. it is necessary to take sorbents - smecta, polysorb, activated carbon, enterosgel, enterosorbent;
8. the use of a special antidote - Unitiol (dropper, intravenously);
9. the introduction of diuretic solutions;
10. symptomatic treatment is carried out.

That is why you must know how to remove mercury from the body. Timely assistance will help to avoid tragic consequences and death. Acute mercury vapor poisoning will require urgent hospitalization. Medications play a special role in the recovery process. The following are considered the most effective: Taurine, Unithiol, Methionine, saline solutions.

For the purpose of preventive measures, it is necessary to observe personal hygiene, cleanliness in the house. It is necessary to rinse the oral cavity with a special solution prepared on the basis of potassium permanganate. A person who has suffered such a disease should carefully monitor their own health.