Question
During a cold, a child accidentally breaks a mercury thermometer while taking their temperature and comes into contact with the spilled mercury beads. Will this contact have any impact on the child’s health? Will the air be contaminated if the ground is not cleaned up in time?
Answer
Mercury is not easily volatile at room temperature, and even in small amounts, it is generally not necessary to take special measures for the amount released from a thermometer. Simply clean up the mercury beads on the ground and open the windows for ventilation, there is no need to be overly anxious. Mercury primarily enters the body in vapor form and is harmful to the nervous system. Symptoms of mercury poisoning are typically evident in the nervous system and are relatively easy to recognize. If you still feel concerned, eating more vegetables and drinking more water can help expel mercury from the body.