Question
Is mercury in thermometers toxic and potentially harmful to infants?
Answer
When used improperly, mercury thermometers can break, causing the metal mercury to evaporate and disperse into the air. Typically, the maximum allowable concentration of metallic mercury in the air is 0.01 milligrams per cubic meter. At concentrations of 1.2 to 8 milligrams per cubic meter, people will quickly experience symptoms of poisoning. If a thermometer containing 1 gram of mercury breaks in a room of 15 square meters and the mercury completely evaporates, the concentration of mercury in the indoor air can reach 22 milligrams per cubic meter, far exceeding safety standards, and severely harming human health. Therefore, for infants, the toxicity of mercury should not be overlooked, and preventive measures should be taken to avoid using mercury thermometers to ensure the safety and health of infants.