Mercury
Elemental (metallic) mercury primarily causes health effects when it is breathed as a vapor where it can be absorbed through the lungs. These exposures can occur when elemental mercury is spilled or products that contain elemental mercury break and expose mercury to the air, particularly in warm or poorly-ventilated indoor spaces.
Mercury is familiar to most people as the silver liquid inside older thermometers however it is also present in:
- Thermostats
- Fluorescent lamps
- Fluorescent ballasts
- Button batteries.
Elemental mercury is also used in many man-made products and processes and as a result can turn up in:
- Institutions
- Medical facilities
- Manufacturing plants
- Homes
If you have a release or a spill of mercury in your facility Dec-Tam can handle it. Each situation is different depending on the amount of mercury released and the porosity of the surface involved. The affected area will need to be immediately contained to reduce the potential for cross contamination. Mercury dedicated equipment and breathing apparatus will be utilized to collect the mercury and the area will be thoroughly cleaned. Finally, the contaminated materials will be disposed of properly.
For more information see EPA’s Mercury Spill information at
http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/
You Tube Video Link:
