Residential Mercury Spills from Gas Regulators

Hryhorczuk, Daniel O.; Persky, Victoria; Piorkowski, Julie; Davis, Jennifer; Moomey, C. Michael; Krantz, Anne; Runkle, Ken; Saxer, Tiffanie; Baughman, Thomas; McCann, Ken

doi:10.1289/ehp.8401

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Smart (1986) reports indoor airborne mercury concentrations up to 15 μg/m 3 following breakage of a thermometer. Concentrations of a similar level occur in connection with gas pressure regulators containing mercury (Hryhorczuk et al., 2006). Foote (1972) mentions high concentrations in dental offices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating human indoor exposure to elemental mercury from broken compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)

et al. 2012

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After accidental breakage of a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) indoors, dwellers could be exposed to high mercury concentrations. From the results of our studies in test chambers and real rooms using different lamp types and scenarios, it was possible to estimate the possible human uptake of mercury by inhalation. Immediate action is important to reduce indoor mercury concentrations to a minimum level. The first step is to maximize ventilation followed by careful collection of spilled mercury.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating human indoor exposure to elemental mercury from broken compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)

et al. 2012

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“…Positive urine bioassays were more strongly associated with maximum air mercury concentrations greater than 0.01 mg/m 3 on the first floors of the homes. However, symptoms were not reported for individuals in the affected homes (69). Another study suggested that higher air mercury concentrations correlated with higher urine mercury concentrations among chronically exposed individuals but did not suggest a threshold concentration.…”

Section: Pulmonary/inhalationmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Specifically, there were five level 2b articles (6,7,57-59) and 22 level 4 articles (5,8,15,(60)(61)(62)(63)(64)(65)(66)(67)(68)(69)(70)(71)(72)(73)(74)(75)(76)(77)(78). The lowest air mercury concentration associated with clinical effects was 0.0042 mg/m 3 .…”

Section: Pulmonary/inhalationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There were three level 2b articles (6,7,58) and 22 level 4 articles (5,8,16,18,21,23,(66)(67)(68)(69)(71)(72)(73)(74)(78)(79)(80)(81)(82)(83)(84)(85) with data on spill amounts associated with clinical effects. The smallest well-quantified amount of elemental mercury associated with clinical effects was 1.1 g from a broken thermometer.…”

Section: Pulmonary/inhalationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most cases appeared to be the result of exposures lasting more than 1 day (5)(6)(7)(8)15,16,(18)(19)(20)(21)23,(57)(58)(59)(60)(61)(62)(63)(64)(67)(68)(69)(70)(71)(72)74,(76)(77)(78)81,82,84,85,(93)(94)(95)(96)(97)(98)(99)(100)(101)(102)(103)(104)(105). In general, the clinical effects associated with these relatively low-level, longer duration exposures tended to be less severe and slower in onset compared to high-dose exposures.…”

Section: Onset Of Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Elemental mercury exposure: An evidence-based consensus guideline for out-of-hospital management

Caravati

Erdman

Christianson

et al. 2008

Clinical Toxicology

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1) Patients with exposure due to suspected self-harm, abuse, misuse, or potentially malicious administration should be referred to an emergency department immediately regardless of the exposure reported (Grade D). 2) Patients with symptoms of acute elemental mercury poisoning (e.g., cough, dyspnea, chest pain) should be referred immediately to an emergency department for evaluation regardless of the reported dose. Patients with symptoms of chronic toxicity (rash, tremor, weight loss, etc.) should be referred for healthcare evaluation, the timing and location of which is guided by the severity of illness and circumstances of the exposure (Grade C). 3) If the elemental mercury was recently heated (e.g., from stove top, oven, furnace) in an enclosed area, all people within the exposure area should be evaluated at a healthcare facility due to the high risk of toxicity (Grade C). 4) If the elemental mercury was vacuumed or swept with a broom, the health department should be contacted to perform an environmental assessment for mercury contamination. Consider healthcare referral for those exposed to documented high air mercury concentrations (Grade C). 5) Patients ingesting more mercury than in a household fever thermometer or those with abdominal pain after ingestion should be referred to an emergency department for evaluation (Grade C). Do not induce emesis or administer activated charcoal. 6) Asymptomatic patients with brief, unintentional, low-dose vapor exposures can be observed at home. Asymptomatic patients can be evaluated as non-urgent outpatients if there is concern for exposures to high doses (e.g., more than contained in a thermometer) or for chronic duration (Grade D). 7) Pregnant patients unintentionally exposed to elemental mercury and who are asymptomatic should be evaluated by their obstetrician or primary care provider as an outpatient. Immediate referral to an ED is not required (Grade D). 8) Patients with elemental mercury deposited or injected into soft tissue should be referred for evaluation of surgical removal (Grade C). 9) All elemental mercury spills should be properly cleaned up, including the small amount of mercury from a broken thermometer. Brooms and vacuum cleaners should not be used to clean up elemental mercury. The clean-up of any spill larger than a broken thermometer should be performed by a professional company, state health department, or the EPA. Detailed instructions are provided on the EPA website: www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/mercury/faq/spills.htm (Grade D). 10) Patients with dermal exposures should remove all jewelry and wash the affected area with mild soap and water. Remove all contaminated clothing and place these items in a sealed plastic double-bag for proper disposal (Grade D). 11) Do not discard elemental mercury in household trash, plumbing drains, or sewer systems. Consult local authorities for the proper disposal of low-level elemental mercury-contaminated household items and thermometers (Grade D).

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Radiation Synthesis of Superabsorbent Hydrogel (Wheat Flour/Acrylamide) for Removal of Mercury and Lead Ions from Waste Solutions

Khozemy

Nasef

Mohamed

2019

J Inorg Organomet Polym

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Residential Mercury Spills from Gas Regulators

Cited by 14 publications

References 8 publications

Estimating human indoor exposure to elemental mercury from broken compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)

Estimating human indoor exposure to elemental mercury from broken compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)

Elemental mercury exposure: An evidence-based consensus guideline for out-of-hospital management

Radiation Synthesis of Superabsorbent Hydrogel (Wheat Flour/Acrylamide) for Removal of Mercury and Lead Ions from Waste Solutions

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