Mr_Magnesium
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Broken Hg thermometer, lost the bulb
I am not too sure how the thermometer broke but when i went to go pick up my thermometer the bulb was gone and all the mercury in it has disappeared.
I have no idea where it is at all.
It was outside on my table and i have completely scoured the surrounding area and i can not find it.
What would be the best course of action?
The idea of having a bit of mercury floating around my backyard is not very appealing.
[Edited on 31-1-2014 by Mr_Magnesium]
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phlogiston
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I would lliberally spread of sulfur over the area, allow it some time to react (perhaps a few days), then scoop the top layer of soil and the sulfur
into a plastic bag and dispose of as mercury-containing waste.
There is a lot of info online on clearning up mercury spills and profesionals you can hire to do the job for you (and measure the level of
contamination).
[Edited on 31-1-2014 by phlogiston]
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"If a rocket goes up, who cares where it comes down, that's not my concern said Wernher von Braun" - Tom Lehrer |
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Mr_Magnesium
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I was reading about the sulfur on another thread,
it was around tiles not on soil, also that i have no idea where the mercury actually is.
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hyfalcon
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It being outside, I wouldn't worry to much about it. No way for any mercury vapor to concentrate and that's all I would be worried about where
mercury is concerned.
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Mailinmypocket
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What is scary is my situation at home...
The drains back up a tiny bit when the upstairs people run their laundry and dishwasher at the same time.
On the weekend I noticed a little ball of mercury come up from the drain and rest in the kitchen sink. Shocked I poked at it to see if it was what I
thought it was and sure enough, Hg(with a tiny little piece of glass in it)! They must have broken a thermometer in their sink or something. Not one
of mine since they're both intact and I have never opened a bottle of mercury in that area 
Ugh. Now what?
[Edited on 31-1-2014 by Mailinmypocket]
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hyfalcon
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The VAPOR, in an enclosed environment, is what I would worry about. What did you do with it? I would have washed it back into the trap and let the
water keep any mercury vapor away from your interior environment.
You can always empty the trap if you want to recover it.
[Edited on 31-1-2014 by hyfalcon]
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Mailinmypocket
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It was pretty small but I managed to pick it up on a paper and toss it in with the rest of my Hg. Dumbass plumber used that yellow PVC glue on the
trap so it can't be u screwed...  it should just flush away I guess, there isn't
that much in a thermometer anyways.
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phlogiston
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Let some nitric acid sit in the trap for a while and then flush with a large amount of water.
If a droplet came up once, it could happen again. Of all places, it seems to me that the kitchen is one of the worst to have a mercury contamination
in.
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"If a rocket goes up, who cares where it comes down, that's not my concern said Wernher von Braun" - Tom Lehrer |
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Mildronate
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And so what? Its not Soman or Sarin.
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phlogiston
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Right, anything less dangerous than should be safe to have in your kitchen.
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"If a rocket goes up, who cares where it comes down, that's not my concern said Wernher von Braun" - Tom Lehrer |
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