How to Clean Up Mercury Spill From Fluorescent Light-OSHA

Milu-

Your comments concerning the mercury contained within fluorescent lamps are mostly incorrect, unproven, misleading and outright dangerous. When the correct procedures for handling Mercury are compared to what it stated it becomes apparent that the posting is not based on knowledge of handling Mercury.

Mercury vapors are clearly the most dangerous form of this element. These are emitted from both the metallic liquid form and the gaseous emissions from heated and vaporized Mercury. One breakage of a mercury thermometer under the wrong conditions could lead to eventual death from the vapors. Likewise the mercury within a fluorescent bulb can be very detrimental to the health of an individual if retained in some of the worst locations for it. Some school evacuations are warranted depending upon the conditions of the spill. The degree of effect on humans is related to their sensitivity, long term exposure, temperature, quantity, point of contact. Some of the compounds that are manufactured with mercury and used to be used in such common places as consumers wall paint are eventually deadly from long-term exposure.

Depending upon the conditions stated above hazmat suits, usually level C with a mercury cartridge respirator, and are warranted. For high levels of potential exposure to mercury or some of its derivative compounds a level "B" suit is required. The mercury cartridge respirators mentioned are a special type used only for mercury and with available usage indicators on them

If someone referring to a MSDS doesn't understand the information given by it concerning the hazards of mercury such as dosing, quantities, air volumes and circulation, and exposure they should be consulting with someone who does. That person should discuss it with them to the point that they understand all the hazards, how to avoid them and what to do if exposed.

The materials used in the spill cleanup kits that does the actual leaning up is powered zinc metal. When placed with the mercury it readily mixes with it and forms an amalgam identical to those used in filling teeth (with a slight variation in composition for the teeth).

The debris must be put in a plastic bag to enclose the vapors within the package that will be processed. In fact it should be double or triple bagged as is necessary for most hazardous waste. Placing it directly in a metal can expose the people who will be later reprocessing/reclaiming/disposing the materials to unnecessary vapors. The glass jar is constructed very strong and permits the sample to be examined without opening the vapor proof glass container. For shipments, this container should be packed within vermiculite or other suitable shock absorbent packaging material.

There is much more information concerning mercury than is mentioned in this posting. Knowledge of this will reduce the exposure to mercury and likewise the detrimental effects on personnel. Mercury poisoning is a very horrible thing to experience you, a relative, a friend or even anyone else. It is an accumulative poisoning. Metallic mercury vapors first affects the memory, next the attention span, the muscles, the joints, the function of the internal organs, the complete functioning of the body and next, if you are lucky, you will succumb to it and be out of your misery.

I am extremely familiar with the processing of metallic mercury and compounds derived from it. Are you aware that many biocides were mercury based? One of the most common uses of mercury compounds was a content of latex paints to remove the formation of bacteria and fungus from the paint. If not preserved these paints would grow fungus very soon after application. If the people making this material got it on their skin and didn't wash it off with the correct soap within a few minutes it would burn them. Anywhere from 4 to 24 hours later extremely painful blisters would form on the person's skin. These are about the most painful blisters you can have. The blisters must be "debrided" to remove the mercury drainage contained within them. Debriding is cutting the skin off the blisters so that only the skin below is left. Depending upon where the burn is and how bad it is can disable a person for a month or more. In addition and even sometimes more important is where on the body the burns are. If someone gets it on their feet from soaking through the shoe walking is very difficult. There oared other areas that can very painful and embarrassing. All People have been taught to wash their hands before eating, in this environment it is equally, if not more, important to wash your hands prior to going to the bathroom for fear of contamination. Take the pain from the burn, add the pain from the deriding, include the accusations of immoral conduct because of the location of the burns and they have a very severe, painful burn with a lot of explaining to do.

Mercury poisoning is a very serious matter and must be prevented. There are many other facts about mercury that are applicable but time and space are not available.

Good Luck, Old Salt

I stand behind my post and the information shared from EPA and OSHA.

Milo

Milo-

Likewise I stand behind my post based on 10 years of engineering, safety and environmental experience in a manufacturing site that processed 5 metric tons of mercury per week into numerous products. This includes the product mentioned which was voluntarily withdrawn, and no suitable substitute developed to replace it, in accordance with an EPA mandate. The information "shared from the EPA and OSHA" is only minimal and most possibly outdate. They do not publish complete and specific information for fear of starting hysteria amongst people who are not familiar with the element and its compounds. This is a common tactic of both the EPA and OSHA until more information is obtained.

My dealings with regulatory agencies concerning this element and its compounds included direct interaction with the EPA, OSHA, NIOSH, State DEP, and Local Health Dept., several research laboratories at universities, the American Chemical Council, SOCMA, and several others. This was not casual interactions but extensive and in-depth. One of the previous OSHA publications on mercury was based on information which we provided them.

My comments are based on facts, experience, some research and development and reading numerous publications and discussions with their authors. I spent ten years doing this, a lot more than reading two general publications.

Are you aware that the "Mysterious Potion Powder" is Zinc Powder, the same that I mentioned, included is that 3 gallon spill kit is the same as we used to remove mercury out of 10,000 gal/day of processing waste water?

Are you aware that a "Mercury Trap" for removing mercury from insoluble liquid compounds such as water. A mercury trap is similar to a sink trap, filled with water, and made of glass to observe the level of Hg in it.

Are you aware of the amalgam powders that are used by a dentist are? They are Silver, Copper, Tin and sometimes zinc and some others at very low concentrations. Are you aware that the recommended mix is 1:1 with mercury by weight?

Are you aware that the most frequent exposure to mercury used to be dental technicians whose supply/mix rooms were carpeted? The Hg would get spilled and bury itself in the rug. That is a very difficult place to remove it from.

Are you aware that the most frequently used method of suppressing Hg vapors is to put some water over it?

Are you aware that the procedure for removing mercury from a laboratory sink trap is to put Zinc powder in the drain, let it sit overnight and removing the trap the next day. The mercury that was there is now a solid amalgam which is easily and harmlessly removed?

Instead of reading minimal information intended as casual information for the general public such as:

https://www.osha.gov/pls/publications/publication.athruz?pType=Industry&pID=137 from OSHA and from the EPA: http://www.epa.gov/mercury/

It would be prudent to investigate the more scientific publications, consult with reputable information such as can be obtained with various Google searches and find out the bigger picture before possibly making sarcastic, illogical untrue statements about a subject. This subject requires much more than what appears to apparently used.

I certainly don't want to get into a pi_ _ ing contest over this matter. I am trying to point out that for CR4 to be intelligent and productive blog proper information and knowledge must be obtained. No doubt there are probably several members that could run rings around me about mercury and I respect them for it. There are many members who are experts in their fields out there who can obtain an excellent answer if they have the unique knowledge or know where to research the subject. If they don't know where to research it they will find out.

Again I have no intent on making this a combative exchange of wasteful and sarcastic postings. What I am attempting to do is the same as that of the majority of posters want, to make CR4 a better blog where information is exchanged by intelligent and respectful give the best answers possible. Most members want to help each other. That's what makes this a good blog and what will make it even better in the future.

My apologies to others for taking up so much time and space on this. I can assure you that there was no attempt to "beat my drum" about my knowledge of Mercury. As most of you know, if you are being paid to know and exercise information you've got to get it.

Good Luck. Old Salt