Question

Today, I accidentally dropped the thermometer on my leg, breaking it and causing a small cut. The mercury head is gone, and I see little mercury beads in the wound, as well as some on my leg and arm. Will I get poisoned?

Answer

Hello, mercury is quite dense, so the broken mercury usually forms into small balls and is not easy to enter the wound. In this situation, it is necessary to rinse the wound with physiological saline immediately and use iodine alcohol for disinfection. Generally, this does not lead to mercury poisoning. If the thermometer breaks, it should be cleaned up promptly, and the room should be well-ventilated to help disperse mercury vapor.