Mercury Awareness and Safety
Bureau of Workers’ Comp
PA Training for Health & Safety
(PATHS)
PPT-056-01AP 1
Topics
• Mercury (Hg) and • Respirator
variations recommendations
• Properties • Response safety
• Historic uses • Bibliography
• In-home uses
• Amalgams
• Dental use
• Health effects
• Hg poisoning
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Mercury Awareness and Safety
• Atomic number 80
• Also known as
quicksilver
• Only metal that is liquid
at standard conditions
for temperature and
pressure
• Only other element that
is liquid under these
conditions is bromine
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Mercury (Hg)
• Mercury occurs as
deposits; mostly as
cinnabar, known as
mercuric sulfide.
• Cinnabar: Highly toxic
by ingestion or dust
inhalation
• Elemental Hg can be
produced by heating
mercury-containing ores
and condensing the
vapor
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Three (3) Classes of Hg
• Mercury (Element) Hg
• Organic (Methylmercury
& Phenylmercury)
• Inorganic Compounds
known as Mercurial salts:
• Mercury(I) chloride
(mercurous chloride)
• a.k.a. Calomel
• Mercury(II) chloride
(mercuric chloride)
David Aldridge, his own work with permission
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29 CFR 1910.1000, Subpart Z
From Table Z-1: Limits for Air Contaminants 8-hr TWA
Substance CAS No. mg/m3
Mercury (aryl and inorganic)(as Hg) 7439-97-6 OSHA PEL: C 0.1
Mercury (organo) alkyl
compounds (as Hg) 7439-97-6 OSHA PEL: TWA 0.01
Mercury (vapor)(as Hg) 7439-97-6 OSHA PEL: TWA 0.05
[skin]
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Incompatibilities
Reaction Material
Vigorous Mixtures of sodium carbide,
aluminum, lead, iron
Violent/explosive Chlorine dioxide, lithium,
rubidium, acetylene
Reactive with Azides, ammonia, ethylene
oxide, and other materials
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Hg Uses
Hg Compound Used to make
• Mercuric sulfate acetaldehye
vinyl chloride
vinyl acetate
• Mercuric chloride disinfectant
• Metallic Hg is poisonous
• Heavy metals alter enzymatic and protein
action and can lead to death.*
*Eugene Meyer, Chemistry of Hazardous Materials, Prentice-Hall Inc., 1977
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NIOSH Pocket Guide Information
• Mercury compounds [except (organo) alkyls] (as Hg)
• Formula: Hg (metal)
• CAS# 7439-97-6
• IDLH: 10 mg/m3 (as Hg)
• DOT: 2809
• ERG Guide page 172 (metal)
• OSHA PEL: Ceiling 0.1 mg/m3
• Synonyms/Trade names: Mercury metal - Colloidal
mercury, Metallic mercury, Quicksilver; other
synonyms vary depending upon specific inorganic
and aryl Hg compounds
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NIOSH Pocket Guide Information
• MW: 200.6
• Insoluble
• Flash point: NA
• IP: ?
• Specific Gravity: 13.6
(metal)
• UEL: NA
• LEL: NA
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Properties of Hg
Specific Gravity:
• Mercury is 13.6 times heavier than water
• This density enables it to be used in water level
gauges measuring inches of Mercury to feet of
water; where each inch of Mercury read will support
a column of water 1.13 feet high.
Note Mercury’s ability to support heavy objects
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Properties of Hg
• Allows us to determine
atmospheric pressure
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Historic Uses
• Fur removal from pelts to
make hats in the mid-
1700s to mid-1800s
• Vapors from process were
very toxic
• Mercury poisoning was said
to make one “mad as a
hatter”
• Also used in mining to
separate gold and silver
from ore to create an
amalgam for recovery
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Historic Uses
1800s
• Treat depression
• Toothaches
1900s
• Laxatives
• Teething powders
• Mercurochrome
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Historic Uses
• Through catalytic reactions,
Hg is used to make
polymers, chlorine and
caustic soda, as well as
to extract gold from ore
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Historic Uses
• Fishing lures
• Lighthouse lenses
• Fire detectors
• Power plants: fossil
and nuclear
• Separating chlorine
and sodium from
brine
• Thermometers
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In-Home Uses
• Precautions are
required due to the
use of Mercury-
containing materials
in each household
• Other uses of Hg
should instill safety
considerations
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In-Home Uses
• Mercury switches to
control thermostats in
our homes
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In-Home Uses
• Wood preservative
• Making mirrors
• Herbicides
• Antiseptics
• Antidepressants
• Mercury battery
for hearing aids
• Cosmetics
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Fluorescent Lamp
• Compact Fluorescent Lamp
(CFL)
• More in use: less power to
generate more light; last
longer than conventional
bulbs
• Injection of Mercury via
broken glass may occur
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Mercury Lamps
• Breakage from Hg
lamps may appear
insignificant and easy
to remedy, but you
should exercise due
care and maximize
safety when cleaning
this up
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Hg Forms
• Most toxic forms for
Mercury
• Organic compounds:
• Dimethyl mercury
• Methyl mercury
• Inorganic compounds
(such as cinnabar)
highly toxic by
ingestion and
inhalation
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Amalgams
• Hg dissolves to form amalgams with gold, zinc
and other metals
• Hg reacts with aluminum to form a
Mercury/aluminum amalgam
• This reacts with air resulting in aluminum oxide;
corrodes aluminum, not allowed on aircraft
because it may react with aircraft metal, thereby
weakening it
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Dental Use
• Dental amalgam contains
Mercury
• Professionals agree fillings
may release Mercury but
opinions on health risks
are diverse
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Routes of Exposure
Inhalation
• Primary route for elemental Mercury
• 75 percent to 80 percent is absorbed by lungs
• Vapors are heavier than air (vapor density:
6.9)
Skin or Eye Contact
• Absorbed slowly through skin
• Causes irritation to skin and eyes
and possibly contact dermatitis
Ingestion
• Methyl mercury completely absorbed and not
readily eliminated
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Health Effects
• Inhalation of vapor; major
exposure route
• Symptoms may include
corrosive bronchitis
progressing to pulmonary
edema or fibrosis
• Mercury can cross the blood,
brain and placental barriers,
posing an increased risk to
children
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Medical
Management Guidelines for Mercury, found at
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MMG/MMG.asp?id=106&tid=24
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Food Chain Consequences
• Understanding the food
chain allows us to
understand how we
might internalize
Mercury
• State fishing laws are
specific regarding the
amount of fish which
may be eaten on a daily
basis after waterway
studies have been made
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Acute Health Effects
System: Symptoms:
Respiratory Cough, sore throat, shortness
of breath
Gastrointestinal Metallic taste, nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, abdominal pain
Central Nervous Headache, weakness, visual
System disturbances
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Chronic Exposure
Mercury may
accumulate in the
body, resulting in
permanent damage
and changes to:
• Kidneys
• Nervous system
• Muscles
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Atmospheric Hg in U.S. 1998
• Due to air
pollution and
other releases
of Hg into the
atmosphere
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Mercury Poisoning
Mercury Poisoning may result from:
• Exposure to water-soluble forms of Mercury, i.e.
Mercuric chloride or Methylmercury
• Inhalation of Mercury vapor or eating contaminated
seafood
Symptoms of Hg poisoning include:
• Mild gastritis to severe pain with vomiting
• Convulsions and numbness in mouth and limbs
• Visual field constriction
• Speaking difficulty
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Mercury Poisoning
• In 1953, poisoning occurred in Japan when
industrial waste was discharged into Minamata Bay;
the waste contained Methyl mercury salts
• Aquatic microorganisms can convert mercury salts
into methylated compounds (a methyl group
attaches to Mercury atoms); these are easily
absorbed into animal tissues
• Minamata residents ate the fish containing Mercury
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Mercury Poisoning
• In the 1960’s and 1970’s in Iraq, wheat treated
with Methyl mercury as a preservative due to
being seed grain was fed to animals and
consumed by people
• Resulted in neurological symptoms:
• Speech difficulties
• Narrowing of visual field
• Hearing impairment
• Blindness
• Death
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Respirator Recommendations (NIOSH, Table 3 & 4)
• Mercury Vapor: Mercury compounds [except
(organo) alkyls] (as Hg)
Levels for concern:
• Up to 0.5 mg/m3
• Up to 1.25 mg/m3
• Up to 2.5 mg/m3
• Up to 10 mg/m3
• Emergency or planned entry into unknown concentrations
or IDLH conditions
• Escape
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Respirators
• Up to 0.5 mg/m3
Any air-purifying half-mask respirator
equipped with cartridge(s) providing
protection against the compound of concern
(APF 10) or
Any supplied - air respirator (APF 10)
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Respirators
• Up to 1.25 mg/m3
• Supplied-air respirator operated in a
continuous-flow mode (APF 25) or
• Any powered air-purifying respirator with
cartridge(s) providing protection against the
compound of concern (APF 25) Canister with
end of service life indicator
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Respirators
• Up to 2.5 mg/m3
• Any air-purifying full-face piece respirator equipped
with cartridge(s) providing protection against the
compound of concern (APF 50) or
• Any air-purifying, full-face piece respirator (gas
mask) with a chin-style, front- or back-mounted
canister providing protection against the compound
of concern (APF 50) ESLI required for canister, or
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Respirators
• Up to 2.5 mg/m3 (continued)
• Any supplied-air respirator that has a tight-fitting
face piece and is operated in a continuous-flow
mode (APF 50) or
• Any powered air-purifying respirator with a tight-
fitting face piece and cartridge(s) providing
protection against the compound of concern
(APF 50) or
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Respirators
• Up to 2.5 mg/m3 (continued)
• Any self-contained breathing apparatus
with a full face piece (APF 50) or
• Any supplied-air respirator with a full face
piece (APF 50)
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Respirators
• Up to 10 mg/m3
• Any supplied-air respirator operated in a
pressure-demand or other positive-pressure
mode (APF 1,000)
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Respirators
Emergency or planned entry into unknown
concentrations or IDLH conditions
• Any self-contained breathing apparatus that
has a full face piece and is operated in a
pressure-demand or other positive-pressure
mode (APF 10,000) or
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Respirators
• Any supplied-air respirator that has a full-face
piece and is operated in a pressure-demand or
other positive-pressure mode in combination
with an auxiliary self-contained positive-
pressure breathing apparatus (APF 10,000)
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Respirators
Escape
• Any air-purifying, full-face piece respirator (gas
mask) with a chin-style, front- or back-mounted
canister providing protection against the
compound of concern. (APF 50) or
• Any appropriate escape-type, self-contained
breathing apparatus.
• NIOSH has respirator recommendations for other
mercury compounds as well: Mercury (organo)
alkyl compounds (as Hg)
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Personal Safety
• 29 CFR 1910.252(c)(10)
• “In confined spaces or indoors, welding or cutting
operations involving metals coated with mercury-
bearing materials, including paint, must be done
using local exhaust ventilation or airline respirators
unless atmospheric tests under the most adverse
conditions show that employee exposure is within
the acceptable concentrations specified by 29 CFR
1910.1000. Such operations, when done outdoors,
must be done using respirators approved for this
purpose by NIOSH under 42 CFR part 84.”
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Mercury Detectors
• Gas analyzer
• Direct Mercury analyzer
• Mercury vapor
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Response Safety
Plan for response to:
• Hg liquid
• Hg vapor events
• Have contingencies for:
• Rescuer safety
• Victim treatment
• Multi-casualty
situations
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Response Safety
Personal protective
equipment (PPE) for
staff working in each
zone:
• Hot Zone
• Warm Zone
(Decon)
• Support Zone
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Response Safety
Having a response plan
for smaller as well as
larger types of
potential emergencies
will promote:
• Personnel safety
• Reduced downtime
• Reduced costs
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Response Safety
• Elemental Hg is toxic in
both the liquid and vapor
form
• Although not as readily
absorbed through the skin,
the inhalation hazard is
more severe
• Gloves and foot protection
are recommended when
dealing with liquid form
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Response Safety
• However, self-contained breathing
apparatus (SCBA) and chemical
protective clothing (CPC) are
recommended if dealing with
heated vapor
• Decontaminate or dispose of
clothing contacting liquid mercury
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Decontamination
• Review response policies before a potential event
• Decon or remove and double-bag contaminated
clothing
• Also bag all personal belongings (if you were on
the Emergency Response Team, you shouldn’t
have taken any personal items into the Hot Zone)
• Wash hair and exposed skin thoroughly
• Eyes should be flushed with water or saline for at
least 5 minutes if exposed
• Initiate proper medical protocols
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Chemical Substitutes for Hg
• Due to problems previously cited with the use of
Mercury, chemical substitutes are sought
• One such substitute, called NewMerc by its
originators, is a “nontoxic, electrically-conductive,
liquid alloy alternative”
• It is based on gallium and indium alloyed with tin
• Various applications exist including float switches for
waste water, bilge pumps on ships and sump pumps
for homes
• Further study should result in additional uses
Alan Brown, “Nontoxic Liquid Metal Alloy Could Substitute For Mercury,” from Chemical Online, April 19,
1999, found at http://www.chemicalonline.com/doc.mvc/Nontoxic-Liquid-Metal-Alloy-Could-Substitute-
0001
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Texts to Assist Your Planning
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Selected Bibliography
Eugene Meyer, Chemistry of Hazardous Materials, Prentice-Hall Inc., 1977
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0383.html
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Medical Management
Guidelines for Mercury
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MMG/MMG.asp?id=106&tid=24
Philippe Grandjean, Hiroshi Satoh, Katsuyuki Murata, and Komyo Eto,
“Adverse Effects of Methylmercury: Environmental Health Research
Implications,” published in Environmental Health Perspectives, August 2010
(published online June 8, 2010)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2920086/
Alan Brown, “Nontoxic Liquid Metal Alloy Could Substitute For Mercury,” from
Chemical Online, April 19, 1999
http://www.chemicalonline.com/doc.mvc/Nontoxic-Liquid-Metal-Alloy-Could-
Substitute-0001
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Contact Information
Health & Safety Training Specialists
1171 South Cameron Street, Room 324
Harrisburg, PA 17104-2501
(717) 772-1635
RA-LI-BWC-PATHS@pa.gov
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Questions
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