“Broken a thermometer, the whole family was mercury poisoned, and both mother and daughter died!” Recently, the news spread in the circle of friends, causing many people to panic. Is a small mercury thermometer really so harmful? Recently, the reporter interviewed many hospitals in Fuzhou. Experts said that there has not been such a case yet. The mercury content of household thermometer is very small. After it is broken, as long as it is ventilated and cleaned in time, it will not cause mercury poisoning, however, in daily life, there are still many daily necessities, cosmetics and other mercury-containing products, and citizens should be vigilant. Break the thermometer and roll out a lot of small sliver beads Broken thermometer is not enough to kill At the end of February, a Fuzhou boy over one year old was playing with a thermometer. Grandma was anxious and tried it. She bit the thermometer and swallowed mercury by mistake, both ancestors and grandchildren rushed to Fujian provincial hospital for help (see the report of this newspaper on February 25). Yesterday, the reporter visited Fujian provincial hospital, Union Hospital, affiliated First Hospital, Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital, etc. The doctor said that occasionally some citizens accidentally broke and bitten the thermometer, but did not cause mercury poisoning. Director Ke of the testing department of the provincial center for the prevention and control of occupational diseases and chemical poisoning said that Mercury, also known as Mercury, is the only liquid metal at room temperature, which is easy to volatilize and has great toxicity in vapor, inhalation of a large amount of mercury vapor in a short period of time may cause acute poisoning, with fever, dizziness, headache, vomiting and other symptoms, accompanied by stomatitis, gastroenteritis and bronchitis. In severe cases, it may damage the lung, kidney and central nervous system. However, the mercury content of a household thermometer is only about 0.5g. After being broken, it will soon volatilize as long as it is cleaned in time and ventilated by windows. Director Lin of the occupational disease department of the center said that mercury can accumulate in organisms and accumulate to a certain extent to cause organ damage, which is common in the instrument industry (such as thermometer, sphygmomanometer, etc.), workers in electrical industries (such as fluorescent lamps, chopsticks container lamps, electronic tubes, etc.) are exposed to mercury for a long time. If they are not properly protected, they may cause occupational chronic mercury poisoning. However, in recent years, the state plus-sized its protection, and occupational chronic mercury poisoning is rare. Collect water sliver beads can’t be touched by hand Compared with thermometer, old sphygmomanometer has more mercury content!” Director Ke said that some energy-saving lamps, fluorescent lamps, fluorescent lamps and so on also contain mercury. Once broken, Mercury may roll around like a bead. At this time, open the window for ventilation immediately and put on masks and rubber gloves, then use cardboard, wet small cotton swab or tape to absorb water sliver beads, put it into a closed container, add a small amount of water and sand, tighten the bottle cap, write the logo, and hand it to the environmental protection department for handling. He reminded that the water rolled around sliver beads, not touching by hand, nor cleaning it with rag, broom, mop, etc. After collection, do not pour it into the sewer to avoid polluting the groundwater. If the wound touches Mercury, see a doctor immediately. Don’t wash your stomach!” Director Lin also reminded that if Mercury is taken by mistake, don’t panic. The chemical properties of mercury are relatively stable and the damage to human body in digestive tract is extremely small. If the stomach is washed, Mercury may be inhaled into the lungs and cannot be discharged out of the body. It may be absorbed for a long time and cause poisoning. Chen Hongyi, deputy director of the pre-hospital emergency department of the provincial hospital, also said that the mercury dose of the household thermometer is very small. If accidentally bitten, glass ballast should be spit out. Rinse your mouth with warm water and induce vomiting as soon as possible. You can drink some milk, raw egg white absorbs poison. Fast whitening? Be careful that mercury exceeds the standard. Whitening cosmetics are another major culprit of active mercury poisoning!” Director Lin said that not long ago, a woman in Fuzhou suffered a pain in her lower body and dared not wear her underwear. She moved to many hospitals and finally arrived at the provincial center for occupational disease and chemical poisoning prevention and control. After examination, the mercury content in her body exceeds the normal amount several times, which is peripheral neuritis caused by active chronic mercury poisoning. After questioning, the doctor found that she had applied whitening mask to her lower body for a long time. The doctor speculated that these whitening mask were likely to exceed the standard of Mercury and be absorbed through the skin. Director Lin pointed out that the use of whitening cosmetics with mercury exceeding the standard may not only harm skin nerves, but also damage the nervous system, kidney, liver and reproductive system of the human body. To this end, citizens should be careful about “three noes” cosmetics, especially “fast-acting” whitening products. Director Ke also reminded that it is better to find a professional testing agency to identify whether the mercury in cosmetics exceeds the standard. In addition, in daily life, Chinese herbal medicine containing cinnabar and borax should be taken less, and red liquid medicine containing mercury should be used less, especially not used with povidone. If you feel dizzy, headache, etc., mercury poisoning is suspected, the mercury content in blood and urine should be detected in the hospital as soon as possible. (Haidu reporter Chen Yanyan/Wen Mao Chaoqing/picture)
