Mercury thermometer (thermometer)- This is the most widespread and popular means for measuring the temperature of the human body.

Relevance

Not so long ago, this device was the only reliable way to measure body temperature. In a modern high-tech society, this procedure can be carried out using various devices and thermometers. Each of them has both advantages and disadvantages.

Components of a mercury thermometer

A mercury thermometer is based on a tube sealed on both sides. Attached to one side is a small container containing 2 grams of mercury. The thermometer has a scale by which the temperature is determined in degrees Celsius (from 34 to 42). The design of a medical thermometer is made in such a way that, while heating and expanding, during the measurement of body temperature, mercury slowly reaches its value and does not change its position anymore. This is due to a special curvature and narrowing of the place where the container with mercury is attached to the tube. Therefore, in order to use the thermometer again, it must be shaken off in order for the mercury to return to the reservoir. Taking the thermometer in hand, you need to check at what value the mercury column stopped and, if necessary, reset this indicator to 35 degrees, gently shake the thermometer

The effects of mercury on the human body

The mercury contained in this thermometer is a silvery-white metal that has a liquid structure, as well as the ability to evaporate at temperatures above 18 degrees. Even with a slight impact, a ball of mercury is divided into many small parts and scatters in different directions. If you accidentally break the thermometer, mercury spills onto the floor, splitting into many balls and spreading over a large area of ​​the room. It easily penetrates into small crevices and cracks on the floor and furniture, gets hammered into the pile of carpets. And if it is not removed in time, it will poison the human body, evaporating at room temperature. Inhaling mercury vapors, the human body accumulates it and after a while intoxication may occur. It manifests itself in the following symptoms: metallic taste in the mouth, drowsiness, decreased attention and memory, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney damage, abdominal pain, bleeding gums, stomatitis, anemia, dermatitis, tremors of the extremities, irritation of the respiratory tract. Mercury has an extremely negative effect on the body of children, the elderly and pets. Therefore, if a trouble occurs when the thermometer is broken, a number of mandatory manipulations should be carried out immediately.

If the thermometer breaks

• The first step is to drive out of this room everyone who is not involved in cleaning and eliminating the consequences of a broken thermometer, especially children and pets.
• They also immediately open the windows for ventilation, but it is important not to create a draft so that the mercury balls do not scatter over a large area. This will help to reduce the air temperature in the room, and therefore the evaporation of mercury will slow down.
• If possible, limit the accident site with the help of available means, preventing the spread of mercury over a large area.
• Things that have been in interaction with the broken thermometer must be taken out into the fresh air (clothes, carpets, etc.).
• Prepare a glass jar or plastic bottle that has a screw cap, put rubber gloves on your hands, put shoe covers or plastic bags on your legs, and a gauze bandage on your face, which should be moistened with water or soda solution.
• First, we collect all the visible balls of mercury. This is done with two sheets of paper, a brush, cotton wool dipped in a solution of potassium permanganate or soda, a rubber pear, a syringe, a plaster or tape. All of the collected mercury is placed in a jar or bottle of cold water. A rubber bulb or syringe is a handy tool for pulling the mercury balls out of difficult-to-reach areas.
• Carefully inspect all the cracks on the floor (at the joints between the floor and the baseboard, between the laminate, and so on), if possible, disassemble all possible structures to make sure that there are no mercury balls there.
• Close the jar / bottle tightly and place in a place not accessible to children, away from heating appliances. The best thing is to temporarily place this container on the balcony or in the garage. Then it must be handed over to the Office of the Fire Service of the Civil Defense of Emergencies.
• For safety reasons, when working on the collection of mercury, you need to go out into the fresh air every 15 minutes.
• In no case should you:
  • Use a vacuum cleaner, as the heating element in the vacuum cleaner will help vaporize and spread the mercury in the room. Subsequently, using such a cleaning device will be hazardous to health, so you will have to dispose of it.
  • Use a broom, as its twigs will break the balls into smaller ones. This will make it difficult to collect the hazardous substance.
  • Dispose of the collected mercury in the trash or sewer system. This will contribute to the pollution of a much larger area with the difficulty of cleaning it.
  • Do not wash items that you have cleaned or that have come into contact with mercury as a result of a washing machine accident. In this case, mercury can also get into the sewage system, from where it will no longer be possible to remove it. Things are taken outside and aired outside for at least 5 days.
• After all the mercury has been collected, carry out a chemical treatment of the area. To do this, make a dark brown, almost non-transparent solution of potassium permanganate. For one liter of such a solution, add one spoonful of salt and one tablespoon of vinegar (you can use citric acid). Apply the resulting solution to the accident site using a bullet gun or a brush and leave for 6-8 hours, periodically moistening the treated surface with water. After this period, rinse the floor with a soap and soda solution.
• Such a floor treatment should be carried out for several days, keeping the potassium permanganate solution for about an hour.

Often, during repair work or during experiments, it is necessary to measure the temperature of the medium by immersing a measuring device in it. For such measurements, a liquid thermometer is required.

Dive point

This mark allows you to compensate for fluctuations in air temperature, which directly affect the liquid.

Liquid thermometers are widely used in factories and plants to take readings of the temperature of liquid solutions and substances flowing through process pipes. Such procedures make it difficult to measure the temperature of the liquid due to inadequate access. Special measuring channels are created in tubes and reservoirs for device input and reading.

Terms of use and precautions

Thermometers are composed primarily of glass and liquid. They are dangerous for two reasons: broken glass and the toxicity of the active substance.

Mercury is a very toxic substance

In the chemical industry, mercury or alcohol thermometers are more commonly used. Laboratory experiments require high precision, and liquid devices allow procedures to be performed at the highest level. For this, a large volume of mercury is used. When working with such devices, a special tray should be kept under the thermometer in order to collect mercury as soon as possible in case of destruction.

The main thing in the case of a broken thermometer is to quickly collect the mercury.

Falling from a height of human growth, mercury quickly splits into many balls and scatters in all directions. Balls of toxic liquid metal fall into floor crevices, holes and cracks.

Mercury is a very fluid metal. Collecting it completely is not an easy task. Gradually, the mercury will begin to evaporate, creating a dangerous toxic background. It is not easy to ventilate a room from mercury vapor, as mercury vapor is a very heavy gas.

The procedure for removing mercury from a room is called demercurization.

All work must be stopped immediately, mercury must be removed immediately. Removing mercury means doing the following:

1. All visible mercury should be removed immediately. There are two cleaning methods - with a rubber bulb and a cotton swab. When using a swab, remember to grease the swab with oil.
2. All collected mercury must be handed over to a dedicated service. Mercury cannot be poured down the drain; it is much heavier than water.
3. The place where the mercury has been spilled should be treated with a 20% solution of iron (III) chloride, and then wait until it dries completely.
4. After a day, the surface should be wiped with detergent and clean water.

Pros and cons of liquid thermometers

The main disadvantages of the devices are the unsafeness of liquids in the event of depressurization (especially in the case of toxic mercury) and the impossibility of using them at extremely low or high temperatures.

Most thermometers have a scale of 1–2 degrees Celsius. This allows calculations to be made quite accurately, however, the temperature range for each model is different.

The advantages of liquid thermometers are a wide range of applications - both in household and medical purposes, as well as in air, steam, gas and power plants.

Popular models of liquid thermometers, their prices and comparison

The most popular devices are TTZh-M isp4, SP-1, BT-52.220 and TS-7-M1 isp1.

Popular liquid devices: TTZh-M isp4, SP-1, BT-52.220 and TS-7-M1 isp1

TTZH-M isp4

The thermometer is produced by the Steklopribor company. The L-shaped form provides for taking readings in various boiling devices with a provided valve. The average price of the device is 350 rubles.

The active substance is kerosene, the scale division is 2 degrees. The length of the immersion part is 6.5 cm, the measurable range is from 0 to +100 degrees Celsius.

TS-7-M1 isp1

The device belongs to the budget class - the price varies from 250 to 300 rubles. Used primarily in agriculture. The working fluid is methylcarbitol, the measured temperature limit is from -20 to +70 degrees Celsius. The immersion length is only a few centimeters.

BT-52.220

Bimetallic device, Designed specifically for aggressive environments found in oil, food and chemical industries.

Resistant to corrosion, allows changing temperature ranges. The average price is 1200 rubles.

Thanks to replaceable sleeves, the length of the immersion part can be changed from 6.4 to 25 cm. The minimum range is from -45 to 0 degrees Celsius. The maximum is from 0 to +450 degrees.

The device was developed by the Rosma company. The sleeves of this device are made of brass and stainless steel. The device operates at ambient temperatures ranging from -10 to +60 degrees. The dial is made of aluminum. The device is equipped with a radial scale and an arrow.

SP-1

Liquid device manufactured by Termopribor. The average price is about 2,000 rubles.

The device works only in positive ranges. The design allows using four ranges: minimum - from 0 to +100 degrees Celsius, maximum - from 0 to +300 degrees.

The device is resistant to vibrations and is used in workshops and machine-building factories. Working fluid is mercury.

A thermometer is a device designed to measure the temperature of a liquid, gaseous or solid medium. The inventor of the first temperature measuring device is Galileo Galilei. The name of the device is translated from Greek as “measure heat”. Galileo's first prototype was significantly different from modern ones. In a more familiar form, the device appeared more than 200 years later, when the Swedish physicist Celsius took up the study of this issue. He developed a system for measuring temperature by dividing the thermometer on a scale from 0 to 100. In honor of the physicist, temperature levels are measured in degrees Celsius.

Varieties according to the principle of action

Although more than 400 years have passed since the invention of the first thermometers, these devices are still being improved. In this regard, all new devices appear, based on previously unused principles of operation.

7 types of thermometers are currently relevant:

• Liquid.
• Gas.
• Mechanical.
• Electrical.
• Thermoelectric.
• Fiber optic.
• Infrared.

Liquid

Thermometers belong to the very first devices. They work on the principle of expansion of liquids with changes in temperature. When a liquid heats up, it expands, and when it cools, it contracts. The device itself consists of a very thin glass bulb filled with a liquid substance. The flask is applied to a vertical scale in the form of a ruler. The temperature of the measured medium is equal to the division on the scale, which is indicated by the liquid level in the flask. These devices are very accurate. Their error is rarely more than 0.1 degrees. In various designs, liquid devices are capable of measuring temperatures up to +600 degrees. Their disadvantage is that if dropped, the bulb may break.

Gas

They work in the same way as liquid ones, only their flasks are filled with an inert gas. Due to the fact that gas is used as a filler, the measuring range is increased. Such a thermometer can show the maximum temperature in the range from +271 to +1000 degrees. These devices are usually used for taking temperature readings of various hot substances.

Mechanical

The thermometer works on the principle of deformation of a metal spiral. Such devices are equipped with an arrow. They look a bit like an analog clock. Similar devices are used on the dashboard of cars and various special equipment. The main advantage of mechanical thermometers is their durability. They are not afraid of shock or shock like glass models.

Electrical

The devices work according to the physical principle of changing the resistance level of a conductor at different temperatures. The hotter the metal, the higher its resistance to electric current transmission. The sensitivity range of electrothermometers depends on the metal used as a conductor. For copper, it ranges from -50 to +180 degrees. More expensive platinum models can indicate temperatures from -200 to +750 degrees. Such devices are used as temperature sensors in production and in laboratories.

Thermoelectric

The thermometer has 2 conductors in its design, which measure the temperature according to the physical principle, the so-called Seebeck effect. Such devices have a wide measurement range from -100 to +2500 degrees. The accuracy of thermoelectric devices is about 0.01 degrees. They can be found in industrial production, when it is required to measure high temperatures over 1000 degrees.

Fiber optic

Made from fiber optic. These are very sensitive sensors that can measure temperatures up to +400 degrees. Moreover, their error does not exceed 0.1 degrees. At the heart of such a thermometer is a stretched optical fiber, which stretches or contracts when the temperature changes. A beam of light passing through it is refracted, which is fixed by an optical sensor, which compares the refraction with the ambient temperature.

Infrared

The thermometer, or pyrometer, is one of the most recent inventions. They have an upper measurement range from +100 to +3000 degrees. Unlike previous types of thermometers, they take readings without direct contact with the substance being measured. The device sends an infrared beam to the measured surface and displays its temperature on a small screen. In this case, the accuracy may differ by several degrees. Such devices are used to measure the heating level of metal workpieces that are in the furnace, engine housing, etc. Infrared thermometers are able to show the temperatures of an open flame. Similar devices are used in dozens of different areas.

Varieties by purpose

Thermometers can be classified into several groups:

• Medical.
• Household for air.
• Kitchen.
• Industrial.

Medical thermometer

Medical thermometers are commonly referred to as thermometers. They have a low measuring range. This is due to the fact that the body temperature of a living person cannot be below +29.5 and above +42 degrees.

Depending on the version, medical thermometers are:

• Glass.
• Digital.
• Pacifier.
• Button.
• Infrared earplug.
• Infrared frontal.

Glass thermometers are the first to be used for medical purposes. These devices are universal. Usually their flasks are filled with alcohol. Previously, mercury was used for such purposes. Such devices have one big drawback, namely, the need for a long wait to display the real body temperature. With axillary execution, the waiting time is at least 5 minutes.

Digital thermometers have a small screen that displays body temperature. They are able to show accurate data 30-60 seconds after the start of the measurement. When the thermometer receives the final temperature, it creates a sound signal, after which it can be removed. These devices can work with an error if they do not fit very tightly to the body. There are cheap models of electronic thermometers that take readings for no less time than glass thermometers. However, they do not create a sound signal about the end of the measurement.

Thermometers nipples made especially for small children. The device is a pacifier that is inserted into the baby's mouth. Typically, such models give a musical signal after the measurement is completed. The accuracy of the devices is 0.1 degrees. In the event that the baby begins to breathe through the mouth or cry, the deviation from the real temperature can be significant. The measurement time is 3-5 minutes.

Thermometers buttons are also used for children under three years of age. In shape, such devices resemble a pushpin, which is placed rectally. These devices take readings quickly, but have low accuracy.

Infrared ear a thermometer reads the temperature from the eardrum. Such a device is capable of taking measurements in just 2-4 seconds. It also has a digital display and works on. This device is illuminated to facilitate insertion into the ear canal. The devices are suitable for measuring temperature in children over 3 years of age and adults, since babies have too thin an ear canal into which the thermometer tip does not pass.

Infrared frontal thermometers are simply applied to the forehead. They work on the same principle as the ear ones. One of the advantages of such devices is that they can operate without contact at a distance of 2.5 cm from the skin. Thus, they can be used to measure the body temperature of the child without waking him up. The speed of the forehead thermometers is several seconds.

Household for air

Household thermometers are used to measure the air temperature outdoors or indoors. They are usually made of glass and filled with alcohol or mercury. Typically, the range of their measurement in the outdoor version is from -50 to +50 degrees, and in the room from 0 to +50 degrees. Such devices can often be found in the form of interior decorations or a magnet for the refrigerator.

Kitchen

Kitchen thermometers are designed to measure the temperature of a variety of foods and ingredients. They can be mechanical, electrical, or fluid. They are used in cases where it is necessary to strictly control the temperature according to the recipe, for example, when making caramel. Typically, these devices come with a sealed storage tube.

Industrial

Industrial thermometers are designed to measure temperatures in a variety of systems. They are usually mechanical type instruments with an arrow. They can be seen in the mains of water and gas supply. Industrial models are electrical, infrared, mechanical, etc. They come in the widest variety of shapes, sizes and measuring ranges.

To measure temperature, thermometers are used, the liquid types of which are commonly called a thermometer, although a degree is not the only unit for measuring the heating of bodies or media (there are also Kelvin and Fahrenheit). Although such a device is quite common, not everyone knows how it works. Using the example of a medical mercury thermometer shown in the figure below, we will tell you how the thermometer works and describe its operation.

The thermometer consists of the following parts:

Flask with liquid (item 1).

A hermetically sealed transparent (most often glass) tube (item 3) is connected to the flask, from which air is removed.

The liquid with which the flask is filled is also partially in the tube (pos. 2).

A body made of transparent material (pos. 6) is designed for assembling all parts of the thermometer into a single one and protecting them. In the case of a medical thermometer, it is also made of glass. Moreover, the flask can be a single whole with the body, but between it and the environment there is no space filled with air, which reduces the accuracy of the device due to its thermal insulation properties. There are no requirements for the tightness of the case.

The thermometer scale (pos. 4) is made of paper, plastic or ceramics. It is marked with divisions and numbers (pos. 5), according to which readings are read. The scale is attached to the tube, and its position is set when calibrating or checking the thermometer.

How does a thermometer work?

Explains how the thermometer works, based on the law of thermal expansion of bodies and liquids. The flask contains a liquid with a high coefficient of thermal expansion. In this case, it is mercury, but more often non-hazardous alcohols or similar substances are used, glycerin into which a dye is additionally introduced. Heating up in the flask, the liquid rushes up the thermometer tube. The increase in its volume does not restrain the atmospheric pressure and the resistance of the compressed air, since it is pumped out of the tube, and it itself is sealed. The volume of space inside the tube (pos. 3) is much less than the volume of liquid in the flask (pos. 1), then its column moves a considerable distance.

The readings on the scale (pos. 5) are read by the height of the liquid column. With a decrease in the heating temperature of the flask, the process proceeds in the reverse order, and the height of the liquid column also becomes smaller. By the way, how the thermometer works is studied in the school physics course.

Digital thermometer: modern and safe

It is also worth noting that there are other types of thermometers that are very popular. They use the principles of changing the electrical resistance of materials, or the shape of bimetallic plates from temperature. Such devices consist of sensors, electrical or mechanical converters of their signal and indication devices.

Please write in the comments, did you like the article or not?

In our time, when digital and electronic technologies are actively developing, and are entering all spheres of human activity, playing an increasing role and becoming more and more indispensable for each of us, there are ordinary objects and things from our everyday life that will serve us for a long time. and be useful.

Such items include the well-known " thermometer", Or how to call it more correctly - mercury medical thermometer.

Even after the appearance of a large number of models of electronic thermometers, the mercury thermometer has not lost its popularity and is the most common device for measuring the temperature of the human body.

The main element of a mercury thermometer is a capillary tube. The tube is sealed on both sides and air is pumped out of its nutria. A mercury reservoir is located at one end of the tube. There is a special scale for measuring temperature. The scale is marked on a bar attached to the tube. The scale measurement range is from 34 to 42 degrees Celsius. For accurate measurement of body temperature, each degree on the scale consists of 10 divisions, equal to 0.1 degree Celsius.

The fundamental difference between a medical thermometer and conventional mercury thermometers for measuring ambient temperature is that the junction of the reservoir with mercury and the capillary tube is specially curved and slightly narrowed, which in turn makes it difficult for the mercury to move in the opposite direction.

Thanks to this design of the "thermometer", when measuring the temperature of the human body, mercury heats up, expands and slowly reaches its maximum level, showing the correct temperature.

But at the same time, after the termination of the temperature measurement and exposure to the thermometer, mercury does not change its position and the reading on the scale is fixed at the maximum value that was reached during the measurement. That is why the medical thermometer is called the maximum.

To return the thermometer to its initial position for further use and measuring the temperature, it is necessary to shake the "thermometer", thereby returning the mercury back to the reservoir.

Advantages of a mercury thermometer:

• A mercury medical thermometer, due to its characteristics, is the most accurate in terms of its indicators, and is close in readings to a gas thermometer, which is considered a reference thermometer. Therefore, a mercury thermometer measures the temperature of the human body more accurately than other thermometers.
• At the same time, a mercury thermometer is less susceptible than others to the effects of extraneous factors and temperature measurement conditions.
• The design of the mercury "thermometer" allows it to be disinfected with full immersion in a disinfectant solution, therefore it is suitable for healthcare and medical institutions.
• Compared to electronic thermometers, an ordinary "thermometer" is very attractive for its price to any buyer (the cost of a medical mercury thermometer is 25-50 rubles). But here the following feature should be taken into account. A mercury thermometer is difficult to manufacture. Mercury of high quality and special purification is required. Requires special equipment for cleaner production. Therefore, mercury thermometers produce less and more electronic ones. And with the subsequent development of technology, electronic thermometers will become much cheaper over time.
• The most primitive design of the thermometer provides simplicity and availability of use.

Disadvantages of a mercury thermometer:

• It measures body temperature for a long time. On average, the temperature measurement should last at least 5-6 minutes, and the most accurate measurement requires a weight of 10 minutes.
• But the main disadvantage of a mercury thermometer is the mercury itself. It is the presence of mercury (about 2 grams) - a dangerous substance for human health, and the glass construction of the "thermometer", which is easily broken, negates all the advantages of a mercury thermometer in comparison with all others.

Mercury is a liquid with a silvery-metallic luster, which begins to evaporate at temperatures of + 18 ° C and above.

Mercury is a silvery white metal. But the metal is unusual, in our traditional understanding. The melting point of mercury is very low for metals and equals -38.9 degrees Celsius.

Due to this specific property, under normal conditions, for example at room temperature, mercury is an easily mobile liquid, which, with a slight impact, is divided into small balls, and when combined, it easily re-joins into a single ball.

Another property of mercury is that it begins to evaporate already at a temperature of + 18 ° C and above.

If a mercury thermometer breaks in a room or apartment, then the mercury after the impact breaks up into many small drops and spreads throughout the room. At the same time, mercury can easily penetrate into the pile of carpets, into the cracks in the floors, in the gaps between the baseboard and the floor. Then mercury, actively evaporating, pollutes and poisons all the air in the room.

If a person breathes this air constantly, over time, mercury begins to accumulate in the body, which in turn leads to chronic mercury intoxication, which can manifest itself as a metallic taste in the mouth, headaches, diarrhea, kidney damage, stomatitis, salivation, anemia, dermatitis, tremors limbs.

How to use a mercury thermometer correctly?

Before each measurement of body temperature, it is necessary to check the thermometer by carefully examining it. If the reading on the mercury column exceeds 35 C, shake off the thermometer.

Shaking the thermometer is done as follows:

• Hold the top of the thermometer in your fist so that the head of the thermometer rests securely in your palm, the reservoir of mercury looks down, and the middle of the thermometer is between your thumb and forefinger
• Several times, with a jerky movement in the elbow joint, forcefully lower the arm down, while making an abrupt stop of the arm, so that there would be a real shaking of the "thermometer".
• After measuring the temperature, the mercury thermometer must be disinfected; in this case, under no circumstances wash the mercury thermometer with hot water. From exposure to hot water, it can lose its accuracy or even deteriorate or even crack.

Before eliminating the consequences of a broken mercury thermometer, you need to prepare:

• A glass jar with a tight-fitting lid to preserve the collected mercury.
• Medical cotton wool, pieces of plaster, a sheet of thick paper, and a rag.
• Large plastic bags for disposing of items that may be contaminated with mercury.
• Knitting needle or thick needle, medical syringe.
• Flashlight or table lamp with an extension cord for lighting.
• Rubber gloves.
• Chemicals with oxidizing (bleaching or disinfecting) properties and containing chlorine compounds (whiteness, chlorinol, etc.). A potassium permanganate solution may come in handy from the first aid kit.

The first stage of mercury removal is demercurization.

Demercurization is the collection of droplets of mercury. This is the most important and time consuming stage.

Never use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust. There are two main reasons for this.

Firstly, the vacuum cleaner itself will be contaminated with mercury particles, and it will be impossible and dangerous to use it in the future.

Secondly, the filters of the vacuum cleaner will not retain all the mercury, and most of it, already sprayed, will again appear in the room and settle on all possible surfaces (from which it will already be difficult to collect it), and in large quantities will enter your lungs.

• Remove from the room all people who are not involved in cleaning. Be sure to take the children and pets away from the apartment. Keeping children and animals in an infected room is dangerous to their health, and in addition, they can carry mercury throughout the room or even swallow it.
• First of all, carry out a thorough inspection of all objects, surfaces and objects that may have gotten mercury droplets. It is worth considering that elastic balls of mercury roll very well on any surface, while they can be very small in size.
• It is better to use a flashlight prepared in advance to illuminate all corners, crevices, cracks in the floor, notches and irregularities. The metallic sheen makes mercury easier to spot in bright light.
• All things susceptible to mercury contamination must be collected and placed in plastic bags and taken out into the fresh air from the contaminated room.
• When examining horizontal surfaces and floors, especially parquet or laminate, it is necessary to mark in advance with chalk or pencil the places where mercury particles were found. Do not step on these contaminated areas to keep the mercury out of your shoes.
• The collection of mercury must be started with the largest drops so that they do not break into smaller droplets. For the convenience of cleaning the mercury, it is best to use a thick sheet of paper, folded in half, or in the shape of a scoop. Use a thick needle or knitting needle to roll the drops of mercury onto a piece of paper.
• By gently bringing the drops closer to each other, you can combine several small drops into one large one. Carefully place large drops in a prepared glass jar.
• Use a small piece of plaster or adhesive tape to collect very small drops of mercury. Small drops of mercury should be held on the sticky side of the patch. Place the plaster with drops of mercury adhered to it in a glass jar.
• From crevices in the floor, parquet or other objects, drops of mercury can be removed with a needle with a cotton swab wound around it. For effectiveness, the tampon should be soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate. Place a swab with drops of mercury adhered to it in a glass jar.
• Drops of mercury can also be removed from the cracks using a medical syringe with a thick needle.
• If you suspect that mercury particles have gotten behind the skirting board, under the laminate or under the parquet flooring, be sure to remove them and carefully examine them.
• Collecting mercury particles from a broken thermometer can take hours. For the safety of your health and to avoid mercury vapor poisoning, every 10-15 minutes you should take a break and go out into the fresh air.

After you have collected all the mercury, it should be handled very carefully and carefully. Close the jar with mercury with a tight lid so that mercury vapors do not escape. Under no circumstances should mercury be thrown into the trash heap, trash chute or toilet bowl. This will only lead to new, very difficult to remove dirt. A jar with collected mercury can be temporarily placed on a balcony or in a garage, providing all means for its integrity, and then handed over to representatives of the rescue service.

The second stage of mercury removal is chemical demercurization.

It is necessary to proceed to the stage of chemical demercurization only if all visible droplets of mercury are removed and all objects and things susceptible to contamination are collected and removed from the room.

To do this, you will need the chemicals available at home. The most affordable remedy that can be found in any medicine cabinet is potassium permanganate. Depending on the area of ​​the treated surface, we prepare a solution of potassium permanganate. For reliability, it is better to immediately prepare one liter.

• To prepare the solution, pour water into a jar and add a few crystals of potassium permanganate to make an almost opaque dark brown solution. Based on the proportion per liter of water, add and dissolve a tablespoon of table salt, as well as a tablespoon of vinegar essence or a pinch of citric acid. Mix the resulting solution carefully and thoroughly so that no particles remain.
• We put on rubber gloves and begin to process the contaminated surface with the resulting solution. When treating surfaces, special attention should be paid to cracks, crevices and corners where mercury particles may have remained. You can even pour a little solution into such places for more reliable processing.
• After applying the solution to the surface, leave it for 7-8 hours. As the solution dries, it is necessary to periodically wet the treated surface with clean water.
• After a lapse of time, the treated surface is thoroughly washed with the use of detergents and cleaning chemicals. Then you need to do high-quality wet cleaning throughout the apartment.
• To prevent the elimination of the consequences of a broken thermometer, daily wet cleaning of the apartment and frequent prolonged airing are carried out.
• Usually, after a week of high-quality cleaning and airing, it is possible to completely get rid of mercury particles in the apartment.

What to do after liquidation of the consequences:

• After collecting the mercury, you need to contact the Ministry of Emergencies by phone 101 for help, to transfer cans of mercury to them.
• Drink as much liquid as possible (water, tea, coffee, juices), as mercury formations are excreted from the human body through the kidneys.
• If you suspect that mercury is still present in your apartment, call a specialist with a mercury gas analyzer. On the issue of measurements, it is necessary to contact the regional centers of hygiene and epidemiology.

What not to do:

• Do not throw a broken thermometer and mercury particles into the trash heap or into the garbage chute. Two grams of mercury in a thermometer is enough to pollute six thousand cubic meters of ambient air.
• Do not flush mercury down the drain. It tends to settle in sewer pipes, and it is almost impossible to extract mercury from the sewer.
• Do not collect mercury with a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner, blowing air with mercury, will evaporate the liquid metal, thereby polluting the ambient air in the room. If you do this, you will have to discard the vacuum cleaner, as it will be dangerous to use it.
• Do not sweep mercury particles with a broom. The stiff twigs of the broom will only crush the poisonous balls of mercury into fine mercury dust, which will immediately enter your lungs.
• Do not wash things, clothes and shoes that have come into contact with mercury, either with your hands or with a washing machine. It is better to throw these things away altogether.

Maybe it's time to get rid of the mercury in the house?

The fact that mercury thermometers are dangerous was recognized in the EU and in a number of other countries. That is why the use of mercury thermometers is prohibited in medical and healthcare facilities. At the same time, the sale of measuring devices containing mercury, including thermometers and thermometers, is prohibited. This measure can significantly reduce the amount of toxic mercury released into the environment with household waste.

Electronic thermometers are the best alternative to mercury thermometers. In the absence of mercury and glass in their body, they are absolutely safe to use for humans, including when measured in the mouth. And the speed of measurement and the presence of memory favorably distinguishes them from the old mercury thermometer. / P>