Mercury and Your School
        HicrliSchools
                          Region 7

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              Types of Mercury
  Elemental Mercury (quicksilver)
   •  Is the only liquid metal at room temperature, and
   •  Can be present in certain devices used around your school
     and home.
  Inorganic Mercury (mercuric salts)
  Organic Mercury (methyl mercury)
This presentation will focus on elemental mercury and the
  hazards it presents.
                                                  Region 7

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 Mercury in the Environment

Mercury enters the environment from:
  Natural sources such as volcanoes and the
  weathering of rocks; and
  Human activities such as combustion of
  coal, mining, and other industrial
  processes.
                                    Region 7

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         Health Effects
Exposure to elemental mercury occurs
when you come in contact with it. You
might be exposed by breathing it, ingesting
it, or touching it.
If you are exposed to mercury, many factors
determine whether you'll be harmed. These
factors include the dose (how much), the
duration (how long), and how you come in
contact with it.
                                     Region 7

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           In Schools
   Mercury is used in several types of
   materials/devices in schools:
Thermometers
Barometers
Thermostats
Fluorescent light bulbs
Mercury switches
Mercury vapor lamps
Charles' law tubes
                                       Region 7

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        In Case of a Spill
Remain calm;
Don't touch the mercury or try to clean it
         1 A.'          i^M^
up yoursel
Notify thejsroper authoriti
Remow yourself from the^area^and
Don't remr^i^th^^orflwhere the spill
occurred until you are tolcnt is safe.
                                    Region 7

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