Question
What are the safety concerns if someone touches mercury from a broken thermometer and then breastfeeds without washing their hands?
Answer
If mercury from the thermometer is ingested in large quantities, it can cause mercury poisoning. However, since the amount of mercury in a thermometer is relatively small, even if swallowed, it would not cause mercury poisoning because the quantity is too small to reach toxic levels. Moreover, based on the given situation, the amount of mercury you and your baby have been in contact with is extremely low, so the likelihood of poisoning is very low. You can rest assured and do not need to be overly concerned.