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Q. The other day I had a fever and was taking my temperature. When I was shaking my thermometer, the bottom broke off and it spilled down the sink drain. I was too sick to do anything about it that day.
Today, I am feeling better and when I searched the Web for ideas about disposal I got freaked out. What should I do about the mercury that went down the drain?
A. This is a serious situation because liquid mercury from a thermometer can release mercury vapors that are toxic. They can also get into wastewater and cause dangerous pollution.
The mercury is probably caught in the U-shaped trap under the sink. A plumber could help you clean out the trap into a bucket. If you opt to do this yourself, though, be sure to wear disposable latex gloves. After removing the trap, empty the contents into a bucket. Carefully pour off as much water as you can and then use an eyedropper to pick up the mercury. Put it into a zip-top sealable plastic bag. Seal the eyedropper in a separate bag and take both to a hazardous waste collection site.
Your experience underscores the importance of eliminating all mercury-containing thermometers. Instead, consider a digital thermometer. One new device is the Temple Touch Thermometer. It provides a digital readout in 6 seconds. This is especially convenient for parents with young children since it does not require rectal or oral placement.
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I would not want to be construed as not observing caution. HOWEVER, we older dentists who had great exposure to mercury have, as an investigated group, shown no indications of common consequences from our exposure over decades. We mulled it in our hands in preparing amalgam fillings, spilled it into our carpeting and crevices, most of us played with it as children, rubbing it on pennies.
With the previous in mind I consider the hysteria from broken thermometers to be misguided, if not outright comical. To evacuate a school, engage HAZMAT and burn sneakers because of a broken thermometer is such vast overkill that it defies rationality.
Please note that silver amalgam fillings, which contain mercury, have finally and officially been judged as not being harmful. It's too bad that so many people were caused to panic and spent so much money and possible discomfort in having them removed and replaced.
So I should not be concerned that my then 6 year old son swallowed the mercury in a broken thermometer? I've had such guilt and worries since that happened 24 years ago.
Could the retired dentist, who wrote on August 18, 2009 that amalgram fillings are not harmful, please provide reference/s concerning the judgement that the fillings are not harmful?
Amen to the Retired Dentist, Get a life folks. A single broken Mercury thermometer does not constitute a HAZMAT situation. Please there are more important things to worry about. If you must worry try world overpopulation and it's resulting problems and the increasing pollution of most of our natural resources. At least these are real problems. It seems in this country we are more and more living in a world of irrational fears and mass Internet hysteria. Maybe we have to go back to the good old days when we had real problems like how to put food on the table and clothe our children. If you really want something to worry about, you probably consumed more Mercury over the last few months eating fish than was in that thermometer.
Thank you, finally a voice of reason.
Hi Carol,
I hope that the following quote will put you entirely at ease:
"Quicksilver (liquid metallic mercury) is poorly absorbed by ingestion and skin contact. It is hazardous due to its potential to release mercury vapour. Animal data indicate that less than 0.01% of ingested mercury is absorbed through the intact gastrointestinal tract."
Your period of waiting for possible consequences, as slight as they ever were, is long past.
Hi Margot,
The following Quote is from an Amer. Dental Assn. site: http://www.ada.org/public/topics/fillings.asp#amalgam :
"While questions have arisen about the safety of dental amalgam relating to its mercury content, the major U.S. and international scientific and health bodies, including the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization, among others have been satisfied that dental amalgam is a safe, reliable and effective restorative material."