How can I be exposed?
1.  When mercury is not contained properly, its
   vapors get into the air, and you will breathe
   the vapors in, absorbing most of the
   mercury.
2.  Mercury can be absorbed through the skin.
3.  When swallowed, small amounts of liquid
   mercury is absorbed into your blood.
Mercury vapor is especially dangerous because it
can get into carpets, curtains, furniture, and cracks
in the floors. It can stay there for months or years,
slowly letting off more vapors.
Children are more at risk for mercury  exposure
because it settles near the floor where children
breathe the vapors or eat the droplets.
 What are the health effects?
      Mercury can cause permanent damage to
      your brain and central nervous system,
       resulting in behavioral or learning
       problems. It is especially dangerous for
     " young children and fetuses, whose brains
       are still developing. The health effects
       depend on how much is absorbed and for
      how long a person is exposed.
       It may take a long time for noticeable
       symptoms to develop. These include:
   shaky hands
/ redness or swelling of the mouth or gums
•/ memory loss
/ headache
•/ loss of appetite
Vapors breathed in by pregnant women can harm
the developing fetus. Mercury can also be passed
to a baby through breast milk.
Contacts for More Information:
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  http://www.epa.gov/mercury
  Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
  Registry http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/alerts
Contacts for methylmercury in fish:
  U.S. Food and Drug Administration (fish
  from stores or restaurants) 24-hr toll free
  hotline 1-888-SAFE-FOOD
  http://www.cfsan.fda.gov
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (fish
  you catch yourself in fresh water)
  http://www.epa.gov/ost/fish
                                                 TEST YOUR MERCURY KNOWLEDGE
1. Mercury is found in:
   a) fish
   c) school labs
b) fluorescent lights
d) all of the above
2. Mercury poisoning can cause:
   a) birth defects       b) kidney damage
   c) brain damage      d) all of the above

3. If you spill 2 tsp. of mercury you should:
   a) call Poison Control   b) panic
   c) wipe it up with a cloth d) vacuum it up
4. Of the following, what is the smallest amount of
   mercury that can cause health effects?
   a) one gallon        b) one pint
   c) half a teaspoon     d) three tons

5. Liquid mercury is MOST dangerous when:
   a) you breathe its vapors b) it is on your skin
   c) inside a thermometer d) you swallow it
                                                Off ice of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation
                                                OSWER i 9285.7-74          EPA# EPA-540-K-04-002
                                                April 2004
                           Protect  your Family
                           from  Mercury
                           in
                           Home
 This  pamphlet  can  answer  your
 questions about mercury and help you
 choose the best ways to  protect
 yourself and your family.
                                                                                                What is mercury?
Mercury is a silver-gray liquid
metal, that's also known as
"quick  silver". It is a
hazardous chemical that,
even in  small amounts,
can cause serious health
problems. It  can  linger
indoors for  months or
even years, and it slowly
evaporates into the air. Its vapors
cannot be seen or smelled, but breathing them can
cause harmful effects.
                                                                            Where is mercury found?
   Mercury is used to make many
   home products  including
   thermometers, electrical
   switches, fluorescent lights,
   thermostats, and batteries.
                                                                               In some cultural traditions,
                                                                              mercury is used as a folk
                                                                              remedy or for spiritual
                                                                              practice.
                                                                              Some utility devices in your
                                                                              home may contain mercury, such as
                                                                              pressure control units attached to your gas
                                                                              meter.
                                                                              Certain instruments used by plumbers can
                                                                              contain mercury. Sometimes these
                                                                              instruments can leak or spill in your home.
                                                                              Certain types of fish contain mercury in a
                                                                              form known as methylmercury. When we
                                                                              eat those fish, it is absorbed by our bodies.

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 How can I prevent or reduce
 exposure?
•/  Make sure your schools and home are
    mercury-free, and that your children
    recognize mercury and its dangers. For
    more information, visit the Mercury in
    Schools Website at
    http://www.mercuryinschools.uwex.edu
/  Clean up spills properly (see section on
    how to clean up mercury).
/"  Do not use mercury or mercury-containing
    products when substitutes are available.
/  If you do use mercury, keep it sealed from
    the air—never take it out of its container.
/"  If you store or use mercury, it is best to do it
    outside. If you must have it inside, keep it
    in unbreakable, disposable containers.
    Never put it on the floor, furniture, or
    carpet.
/  Get tested to see if you have been exposed.
/"  Moderate your fish intake; select species
    that are low in mercury. See back panel for
    resources on mercury in fish.
/  Contact your local fire or health department
    if you find uncontained mercury.
 Have I been exposed?
All of us have been exposed to some amount of
mercury during our lives. However, the only way
to know if you have dangerous amounts of
mercury vapor in your home is to have a qualified
professional test the air inside your home with
special equipment. You can also measure  the
amount of mercury in your urine or blood with a
laboratory test. You can call your doctor to  get
more information on mercury testing.
 I have been exposed.
 What do I do?
If you have high levels of mercury in your body,
a doctor can prescribe treatments to remove the
mercury.
If you have mercury in your home, you may be
able to clean up small amounts  (less than a
teaspoon) by yourself. For more than a teaspoon,
you need professional assistance.
 How can I dispose of products
 containing mercury?
Counties and municipalities often host hazardous
waste clean-up days or thermometer exchange
programs, during which you can bring in
mercury-containing products for safe disposal.
Call your local fire or health department for more
information.
If the mercury in these devices is not properly
contained, get it out of your house immediately.
Do not wait for a clean-up day. Seek immediate
assistance.
 Clean-up or Disposal of Large
 Amounts of Mercury
DO NOT clean up larger
amounts  of mercury
yourself. For more than
one teaspoon, isolate
the spill area and call
your  local  fire  or
health department.
For more than two
teaspoons call  the
National Response
Center (NRC) at (800)
424-8802. The NRC hotline operates 24
hours a day, 7 days per week.
 How do I clean up small mercury
 spills myself (less than 1
 teaspoon)?
Mercury breaks into lots
of tiny beads that
roll around, stick
to surfaces and get
in small cracks.
DO NOT use a
vacuum   cleaner,
broom, or mop. They will spread the mercury
around, and draw more mercury vapor into the
air.
DO NOT pour mercury down drains or flush it
down the toilet. It can get trapped and continue
to give off poisonous vapors.
YOU  CAN clean small amounts (up to one
teaspoon) from flat surfaces like tile, or linoleum,
using  the items listed below. If mercury has been
spilled on carpets, curtains, upholstery or other
absorbent surfaces, throw them away.
Keep  children and pets away from the area.
Remove gold jewelry, as mercury can damage it.
 You will need:
/"  4-5 zip-lock bags
/  trash bag
/"  rubber or latex gloves
/  paper towels
/"  cardboard or squeegee
/  eyedropper
/"  wide tape
/  flashlight
 Instructions:
1.   Put on gloves. Clear area of children and
    pets to prevent tracking mercury elsewhere.
2.   If there is broken glass, pick the pieces up
    carefully, place them on a paper towel, put
    them in a plastic bag and seal.
3.   Use the cardboard or squeegee to collect the
    mercury beads together. Use the flashlight
    to look all over for remaining beads, which
    may be stuck to surfaces or lodged in floor
    cracks.
4.   Use the eye dropper to draw up the beads.
    Slowly squeeze them into a damp
    paper towel. Put the towel in a
    plastic bag and
5.   Use the sticky side
   the wide tape to
   pick up
   remaining
   glass and
   mercury
   beads. Place it
it me towei in a     ^^
seal.
;ide of
r
    in another plastic bag and seal.
6.   Place the cardboard or squeegee into a
    plastic bag and seal.
7.   Carefully remove the gloves and put them
    in a plastic bag and seal.
8.   Put all sealed bags into a sealed garbage bag
    and dispose of according to local and state
    laws. Contact your fire or health
    department for more information.
9.   Remember to keep a window open (with a
    fan blowing out) for 24 hours to ventilate
    the area. Continue to keep children and
    pets out of the cleanup area. If sickness
    occurs, seek medical attention immediately.
10.  For more information visit:
    http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/
    hazwaste/mercurv/spills.htm

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