PuebloCAREs

• Ventilate the area by opening a window. Have children and pregnant women leave the area.
  
• Wearing a pair of disposable gloves, remove all material you can by carefully scooping up the glass fragments and powder with a stiff piece of paper or cardboard.  You can use sticky tape (or duct tape) for small pieces.
  
• DO NOT use a broom or vacuum cleaner. It will break the mercury into smaller droplets and spread.
  
• Place the broken pieces in a sealable plastic bag and wipe the area with a damp paper towel or disposable wet wipe to pick up any stray shards of glass or fine particles.
  
• Place towels and gloves in sealable plastic bag as well and place in the outside trash. Be sure to wash your hands after you’re done cleaning.

• Perform clean-up procedures indicated above.
  
• If clean up is difficult, you may need to cut out the contaminated section of carpet and carefully place in a plastic bag for disposal.
  
• The first time you vacuum over the area after clean up was done, remove the vacuum bag (or empty the waste canister) into a plastic bag and place outside in the trash.
  

Mercury is used in a wide variety of household products, including paint, thermometers, thermostats, batteries, fluorescent lamps, disinfectants, antiseptics, diuretics and preservatives. These items release mercury into the environment and home when broken, mishandled or disposed of inproperly. Proper care is important when dealing with mercury-containing products. If spilled, mercury absorbs into many household materials while slowly evaporating into the air over time, allowing for exposure. Knowing what products and items contain mercury and handling them properly will limit the risk of mercury exposure.
 
Common products often have a simple and environmentally friendly alternative. Some examples are listed below:

Thermometers
Mercury is used in thermometers because it expands and contracts evenly with temperature changes. Existing mercury-containing thermometers are safely recycled at the nearest recycling facility. Check with your local solid waste management district for local options. Alternatives include the electronic (digital) or red alcohol thermometers.
 

Household Switches (Thermostats)
Mercury conducts electricity and is used in many household and appliance switches. They are used in temperature-sensitive and mechanical (tilt) switches. Many of these switches are inside the appliance. Examples of appliances that have mercury switches include thermostats, clothing irons and top loading freezers and washing machines. Some products, like thermostats are recycled through local recycling companies and new equipment vendors. Mechanical and electronic switches are available in mercury-free versions.

Household Lamps
Fluorescent, high intensity discharge (HID) and neon lamps contain mercury, often in vapor form. Mercury is released when bulbs are broken or incinerated. Fluorescent lamps are good energy savers, using up to 50 percent less electricity than incandescent lights. This energy savings reduces mercury emissions from power plants. Alternatives are labeled as low mercury lamps and often can be recognized by their green end caps.

Batteries
Before 1980, most batteries used in homes contained mercury. Current mercury batteries are "button" shaped and are used in hearing aids, watches and other items requiring a small battery. In the last decade the United States battery industry achieved a 99 percent reduction in mercury by using alternative materials. Silver oxide, zinc-air, and alkaline batteries are the best alternatives for replacing batteries produced before 1994.

Paints
Latex paint produced before 1992 had large amounts of mercury to prevent fungus growth. Mercury vapors were released when paint was applied. Use latex paint manufactured after 1992.

Old Chemistry Sets and Toys
Children's chemistry sets were once sold with liquid mercury. Some toys contain a drop of mercury that is moved through a maze, called a mercury maze. Check chemistry sets and toys to be sure they are mercury-free.

Athletic Shoes
Some athletic shoes with flashing lights in the soles contain mercury. Some states have banned the sale of these shoes. Newer shoes are mercury-free.

Pesticides
Fungicides and biocides produced before 1994 used mercury toxins to kill fungus, weeds and other pests. Most new pesticides are mercury-free.

Clothing Iron
Some irons have an automatic shut-off switch containing mercury. Irons with mercury-free automatic shut-off switches are available.

Antiseptics
Mercurochrome is a skin antiseptic used to treat cuts and abrasions. It is not commonly used. Mercury-free alternatives include Neosporin and Mycin. Thimerosal is used in antiseptic creams and as preservatives in pharmaceutical solutions including contact lens solutions. Mercury-free products are substituted, when available. Talk to your pharmacist about alternatives.

Blood Pressure Gauges
Home blood pressure gauges contain almost 1.5 pounds of mercury. An aneroid blood-pressure unit is a mercury-free option.

Barometers
A barometer is an instrument used to measure pressure in the atmosphere that contains liquid mercury. A Bourdon tube gauge is an alternative to mercury-containing barometers.

Microwave Ovens
Mercury vapor bulbs were used in older microwave ovens. However, new models do not contain mercury.

Information provided by: Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.state.oh.us