If there is a Spill in Your School
STAY CALM
DO NOT TOUCH
MERCURY
TELL A
TEACHER
AVOID THE
SPILL
24-hour Emergency Contacts
If someone's life is in immediate
danger, please call 911.
For spill clean-up in
Iowa:
(515)281-8694
Kansas:
(785)296-1679
Missouri:
(573) 634-2436
Nebraska:
(402)326-0231
EPA:
(913)281-0991
For help with someone exposed to mer-
cury, please call the National Poison
Center at (800) 222-1222.
For more information about mercury ex-
posure and health effects, call the Pedi-
atric Environmental Health Specialty
Unit at (800) 421-9916.
U.S. EPA - Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: (800) 223-0425
www.epa.gov/region7
www.epa.gov/mercurv
Region 7
This is a true story. It could
happen in your school or your
community.
A 14-year-old student was intrigued
by a mercury demonstration during
science class. Without the teacher's
knowledge, she took the jar of
silvery liquid and shared it with
her friends, who played with the
mercury in school hallways and
classrooms...
-------
...During a field trip, they also took
the mercury to a bowling alley, poured
it into bowling ball finger holes and
rolled the balls down the alley. The
students took the mercury home, put it
in various containers, then brought it
Mercury Exposure is a Health Concern
Mercury Sources in Schools
back to school and continued to play
with it. In the end, 88 people had to be
decontaminated, as well as the bowling
alley, the school, a school bus and a
home. School was closed for three days.
Several students were hospitalized
for medical monitoring. Contaminated
furniture, electronics, clothing and
shoes were discarded as hazardous
waste. Six agencies were Involved in the
cleanup that cost in excess of $223,000.
What is Mercury?
Mercury is a naturally
occurring metal that has
several forms.
Elemental mercury poses a
potential health risk for
schools.
It is a silver liquid that re-
leases a colorless, odorless
toxic vapor.
Gingivitis
Deteriorates Brain
Impairs Hearing,
Vision, Speech
Thyroid Enlargement
Central Nervous System Damage
•
Numbness, Tingling
Kidney Failure
Other Effects
• Delirium
• Hallucinations
• Tremors
• Intestinal Bleeding
• Birth Defects
Instruments containing mercury can be found anywhere
on school property:
Nurse's office, science rooms, gymnasiums, art rooms
& boiler rooms.
Liquid mercury is used in:
Thermometers
Thermostats
Blood Pressure Monitors
Humidity Hygrometers
Test Your Mercury Knowledge
1. Mercury is found in :
A) Pressure Gauges C) School labs
B) Fluorescent lights D) All of the above
2. Mercury poisoning can cause:
A) Birth Defects C) Brain Damage
B) Kidney damage D) All of the above
3. What is another name for Mercury?
A) Quicksilver C) Space Gro
B) Gray Magic D) Malicious Merc
4. Liquid Mercury is MOST dangerous :
A) On your skin C) Inside a thermometer
B) If you breathe its vapors D) If you swallow it
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