Question
My 16-month-old baby broke a thermometer, and the mercury fell on the ground. I cleaned it up with paper shells. Is it toxic? At home, during the winter, my baby just got a cold, and it’s not advisable to ventilate to resolve it, as I’m worried about the mercury harming my baby.
Answer
Based on your description, if the thermometer broke, the risk of poisoning from a very small amount of mercury being inhaled is unlikely, so timely handling is sufficient. It’s recommended to open the windows for ventilation, and move the child to another room during this time. If most of the mercury that fell on the floor has been collected and disposed of, there will be no harm at all; there’s no need to worry. The remaining small amount of mercury will not cause any significant harm.