General > General Technical Chat
I got exposed to toxic material of a thermometer...
fiwi:
Hello guys.
Today I worked on a desk for about an hour, but later I was told a low-temperature thermometer was broken on that desk earlier and have not been fully cleaned...
So I was exposed to the mercury-thallium alloy and... What should I do?
I don't think the food or drink I took was polluted, but those thing can still harm me by skin or even air, right? How serious damage could made to me?
Thank you all.
schmitt trigger:
I would look for immediate guidance from a specialist. I.e. someone in the medical profession.
Not from electrical engineers.
We may have some experience, but I would not trust my health to advice received from an EE forum.
IanB:
I would not worry too much about it. If you did not see the contamination it is not likely enough to harm you, especially with just one small exposure. Just do sensible things like washing your hands thoroughly and do not put your hands in your mouth.
themadhippy:
--- Quote ---What should I do?
--- End quote ---
get on the phone to you lawyer and instruct them to sue everybody involved,from the cleaner to senior management,after all thats the american way.
tszaboo:
Step 1, chill out.
People swallowed mercury and survived. They put it in their veins with a needle and it was fine. It doesn't go through your skin. To inhale fatal dosages, you need to work in an enclosed environment, where they have massive amount of mercury around.
"What if I break a thermometer or light bulb?
If you break a mercury thermometer or light bulb, a small amount of liquid mercury may spill out. Liquid mercury can separate into small beads, which can roll some distance away. The mercury may also evaporate into vapour.
However, this small amount of mercury is extremely unlikely to cause problems for your health."
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