ª Working With Mercury
FACTS
SAFETY INFO BY FAX
Mercury is the only metal which remains in liquid state
at room temperature. In the environment, mercury is
found in three forms: metallic mercury, inorganic
mercury salts, and organic mercury compounds.
Regardless of its form, mercury seems always to be in
a state of constant conversion—and its degree of tox-
icity varies accordingly. Because of this tendency, ele-
mental mercury, when heated or spilled, creates a
particularly hazardous situation.
For years, mercury has been used in a number of
processes, products, and laboratory operations.
Today mercury is commonly found in thermometers,
manometers, paint, fluorescent light bulbs, batteries,
and mercury reagents. The largest sources of mercury
in municipal solid waste (MSW) are household batter-
ies, electrical switches, and fluorescent lamps.
Workplace Standards
Because of mercury’s high toxicity, the American
Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
(ACGIH) has set its Time Weighted Average (TWA) for
mercury vapor at 0.025 milligrams per cubic meter
(mg/m3), with no allowable short term exposure limit
(STEL), plus a Skin Notation (a warning to the effect
that a given substance is easily absorbed through the
skin). The Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health
(IDLH) limit is set at 28 mg/m3.
Effective June 30, 1993, OSHA has revoked its “Final
Rule limits” set forth in Table Z-1-A of 29 CFR
1910.1000, implementing the Court of Appeals decision
in AFL-CIO vs. OSHA, which succeeded in vacating
those limits. OSHA’s “Transitional limit” of 0.10 mg/m3,
a product of that action, remains in effect (see 29 CFR
1910.1000, Table Z-2) and is strongly enforced.
Medical Effects
Mercury commonly enters the body through inhala-
tion, skin absorption, or consumption. Symptoms of
mercury poisoning can include coughing, chest pain,
painful breathing, bronchopneumonia, tremors,
insomnia, irritability, headache, fatigue, gastrointesti-
nal distress, and liver and kidney damage.
Chronic exposure to low levels over time may cause
mental and motor disorders resulting from damage to
the central nervous system. Acute exposure to high
levels of mercury vapor often leads to severe respira-
tory damage. Mercury can be absorbed through the
FACTS SAFETY INFO BY FAX 1-800-393-2287
ª
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Document Number: 235
Page: 1 of 2
skin; physical contact causes burns to skin and eyes.
In such cases, the burning sensation is delayed sever-
al hours and gives no warning to exposure.
If overexposed to mercury vapor, move to fresh air
immediately. Should mercury contact your skin, remove
your clothing immediately and wash the area with mild
soap and large amounts of water for 15 minutes. In
case of eye contact, flush your eyes with water for a full
15 minutes. Seek medical attention immediately.
Always handle mercury with the utmost care. Gloves
are a necessity. Make sure your gloves are construct-
ed of an appropriate material—such as polyethylene
or nitrile—for keeping mercury away from your skin.
Respiratory protection is critical also. Because mer-
cury is odorless, an air-purifying respirator (APR) with
chemical cartridges may be used only if the cartridges
are equipped with end-of-service-life indicators. An
APR may be worn only in circumstances where the air
concentration does not exceed .5 mg/m3. Mercury
concentrations above this level require the use of a
positive pressure supplied air respirator or a self-con-
tained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
Wear chemical safety goggles and a full face shield.
Be sure also to wear impervious aprons or clothing to
prevent skin contact.
Mercury Spill Procedure
Isolate the area immediately. For small spills, use
sand to contain the mercury or an amalgamate to bind
with the mercury and reduce vaporization. For large
spills, dike the area far in advance of the spill for later
reclamation or disposal. Keep uninvolved people
away. Disposal can be tricky; consult your state’s
Hazardous Waste Management office for compliance
requirements that will satisfy local disposal laws.
If you have 1 lb. or less of elemental mercury or items
containing mercury, you can contact us at 1-800-356-
0783 to order the Mercury Disposal/Recycling Kit,
#37887. This kit offers all you need to dispose of small
quantities of mercury waste in a safe, affordable way.
Call our Safety TechLine™ Technical Support at 1-800-
356-2501 for help in selecting mercury spill control
products.
Waste Minimization
Since the 1970s, the use of mercury in products and
materials has decreased significantly. Its extreme tox-
©1998 Lab Safety Supply Inc.
 ª Working With Mercury
FACTS
SAFETY INFO BY FAX
icity has encouraged the development of alternative
materials and processes. Always look for alternative
solutions. For instance, broken thermometers repre-
sent one of the largest single sources of mercury spills.
Whenever possible, choose thermometers made with-
out mercury.
Another source of environmental mercury contamina-
tion comes from packaging. Fourteen states have
enacted legislation to reduce mercury and other heavy
metals content in packaging. All of these statutes are
based on principles established in the Model Toxics
Legislation developed by the Source Reduction Council
of the Coalition of Northeastern Governors (CONEG).
Look for alkaline batteries that contain less than
0.025% mercury. Fourteen states now have laws regu-
lating the recycling of lead acid batteries and mer-
curic oxide batteries. Recycling is preferred over land-
filling, except for the alkaline batteries. Contact the
manufacturer of your mercuric oxide batteries to find
the recycling deposit site nearest you.
The EPA regulates mercury-containing fluorescent
lamps under the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA). Small quantity generators may dispose of
these lamps in an approved hazardous waste landfill
(RCRA Subtitle D facility). Do not break the lamps before
landfilling. Never incinerate the lamps, as this process
releases mercury vapor into the atmosphere; mercury
compounds may then be returned to earth, polluting
lakes and soils. Recycling your lamps is the best solu-
tion. Contact your regional EPA office or your state’s
Hazardous Waste Management office for the location of
an approved landfill or a lamp recycling facility.
Commonly Asked Questions
Q. How can I know if mercury vapors are pre-
sent in my work area?
A. Wear a clip-on Mercury Vapor Badge (also known
as a personal air monitor). The badge will not only
detect the presence of mercury vapor, but can also
be sent to a lab for analysis—giving you an exact
reading of the concentration level in your work
area.
Q. Can I wear a cartridge-style respirator for
protection against mercury vapors?
A. Only hazard-specific cartridges equipped with end-
of-service-life indicators provide air-purifying
protection against low-level mercury vapors. Do
not wear an air-purifying respirator when the con-
centration level exceeds .5 mg/m3—current regula-
tions require the use of an approved supplied-air
respirator or SCBA.
FACTS SAFETY INFO BY FAX 1-800-393-2287
ª
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Document Number: 235
Page: 2 of 2
Q. What is an amalgam?
A. An amalgam, when applied to a small mercury
spill, binds the mercury with another metal—caus-
ing a chemical reaction which inhibits vaporiza-
tion. Since mercury vapor is highly toxic, treating
pooled mercury with an amalgamating agent great-
ly reduces the dangers that even a minor spill
could pose.
References
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, 1990
TOMES Software
“Mercury,” Chemical Health & Safety, Ashbrook, P.,
Klein-Baneiy, C., August/September 1994, p. 32.
Mercury Refining Co., Inc.
1218 Central Avenue
Albany, New York 12205
1-800-833-3505
(Fax: 518-459-2334)
Wisconsin’s Reduction of Toxics in Packaging Law,
Section 100.285, Wisconsin Statutes
“PCBs & Mercury: The Terrible Twins of Lighting
Disposal” (Second of Two Parts), Health Facilities
Management, August 1994
“Final Report: Household Batteries Waste Management
Study,” State of Wisconsin, Department of Natural
Resources, Madison, WI, February 28, 1992
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review of the applicable government regulations and standards, and should
not be construed as legal advice or opinion. Readers with specific questions
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©1998 Lab Safety Supply Inc.