Published on November 18, 2019.
The mercury thermometer is a very practical and safe utensil consisting of a glass tube that contains between 2 to 3 grams of mercury. Given the fragility of their materials, mercury thermometers must be handled with caution, since if they break, a mercury spill will occur, residuo peligroso, cuya inhalación puede producir trastornos neurológicos y del comportamiento, entre otros efectos dañinos a la salud.
In case of facing breakage of a mercury thermometer, it is recommended to keep the place ventilated, carefully pick up glass debris with protective gloves from rubber band and group the mercury droplets together using a cardboard or rubber. Both wastes must be stored separately in containers airtight and labeled according to their content. In no case will recommends using cleaning agents (bleach or detergents) to contain the spill, as this can generate other toxic waste. Waste collected should be referred to a facility authorized by the Authority Sanitary for its correct final disposal in a security deposit. By following these recommendations we will be taking care of the environment and protecting the health of those around us.
