Every home has a first aid kit, and every pharmacy has a thermometer. Moreover, despite the dominance of electronics, very often it is a mercury thermometer. There is nothing surprising in this, because it is the traditional mercury thermometers that show the most accurate results, do not need to replace the batteries and serve regularly for more than a dozen years.
Instructions
Step 1
A mercury thermometer has only one minus - its fragility. The main working component of a traditional thermometer is mercury, enclosed in a glass transparent tube. It is very easy to damage it, resulting in the possibility of mercury leakage. The mercury released from the thermometer does not pose a threat, but the vapors emitted by it are extremely dangerous. Inhalation of mercury vapor leads to severe poisoning with serious consequences.
Step 2
That is why, even if your old mercury thermometer is not damaged, but simply needs to be disposed of, it is irresponsible and very dangerous to throw it away with household waste.
Step 3
If the thermometer is intact, but deteriorated and can no longer be used, it must be disposed of. The main question faced by responsible citizens who do not want to throw a mercury thermometer into the nearest trash can is where to take the thermometer for disposal. According to the current legislation, thermometers are required to be disposed of in pharmacies and hospitals, where specialized rigid containers for transporting mercury thermometers must be available.
Step 4
Most often private companies that have passed state accreditation are directly involved in recycling. However, legislation is often not as effective as we would like it to be. If, contrary to the instructions, they refuse to accept the thermometer at the nearest medical institution, you can clarify the address of the reception center at the district administration.
Step 5
If the thermometer is damaged, emergency measures must be taken urgently. The optimal solution would be to call the Ministry of Emergency Situations, specialists for such calls arrive promptly, carry out high-quality processing, which solves the problem. And you shouldn't assume that a couple of mercury balls in a large apartment are safe. Mercury is a poison, so the Ministry of Emergency Situations comes to such calls without any questions.
Step 6
However, there are situations when you have to solve such a problem on your own. In this case, the main thing is not to panic, but to consistently perform all the necessary actions.
Step 7
First of all, it is necessary to ensure high-quality ventilation of the room - open the windows and vents. Then collect the pieces of the thermometer, do not forget to wear gloves. Pick up visible drops of mercury with a rubber bulb or a cloth soaked in oil. The collected drops and debris should be placed in a jar of water, tightly closed with a lid, and disposed of as soon as possible. The place where mercury has gotten must be treated with a strong solution of bleach or manganese.
