1. Mercury Awareness and Safety PPT-056-01 1 Bureau of Workers’ Comp PA Training for Health & Safety (PATHS)

2. Topics PPT-056-01 2 Mercury (Hg) and variations Properties Historic uses In-home uses Amalgams Dental use Health effects Hg poisoning Respirator recommendations Response safety Bibliography

3. Mercury Awareness and Safety PPT-056-01 3 Atomic number 80 Also known as quicksilver Only metal that is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure Only other element that is liquid under these conditions is bromine

4. Mercury (Hg) PPT-056-01 4 Mercury occurs as deposits; mostly as cinnabar, known as mercuric sulfide. Cinnabar: Highly toxic by ingestion or dust inhalation Elemental Hg can be produced by heating mercury-containing ores and condensing the vapor

5. Three (3) Classes of Hg PPT-056-01 5 Mercury (Element) Hg Organic (Methylmercury & Phenylmercury) Inorganic Compounds known as Mercurial salts: Mercury(I) chloride (mercurous chloride) a.k.a. Calomel Mercury(II) chloride (mercuric chloride) David Aldridge, his own work with permission

6. 29 CFR 1910.1000, Subpart Z PPT-056-01 6 From Table Z-1: Limits for Air Contaminants 8-hr TWA Substance CAS No. mg/m 3 Mercury (aryl and inorganic)(as Hg) 7439-97-6 OSHA PEL: C 0.1 Mercury (organo) alkyl compounds (as Hg) 7439-97-6 OSHA PEL: TWA 0.01 Mercury (vapor)(as Hg) 7439-97-6 OSHA PEL: TWA 0.05 [skin]

7. Incompatibilities PPT-056-01 7 ReactionMaterial VigorousMixtures of sodium carbide, aluminum, lead, iron Violent/explosiveChlorine dioxide, lithium, rubidium Reactive withAzides, ammonia, ethylene oxide, and other materials

8. Hg Uses PPT-056-01 8 Hg CompoundUsed to make Mercuric sulfateacetaldehye vinyl chloride vinyl acetate Mercuric chloridedisinfectant Metallic Hg is poisonous Heavy metals alter enzymatic and protein action and can lead to death.* *Eugene Meyer, Chemistry of Hazardous Materials, Prentice-Hall Inc., 1977

9. NIOSH Pocket Guide Information PPT-056-01 9 Mercury compounds [except (organo) alkyls] (as Hg) Formula: Hg (metal) CAS# 7439-97-6 IDLH: 10 mg/m 3 (as Hg) DOT: 2809 ERG Guide page 172 (metal) OSHA PEL: Ceiling 0.1 mg/m 3 Synonyms/Trade names: Mercury metal - Colloidal mercury, Metallic mercury, Quicksilver; other synonyms vary depending upon specific inorganic and aryl Hg compounds

10. NIOSH Pocket Guide Information PPT-056-01 10 MW: 200.6 Insoluble Flash point: NA IP: ? Specific Gravity: 13.6 (metal) UEL: NA LEL: NA

11. Properties of Hg PPT-056-01 11 Specific Gravity: Mercury is 13.6 times heavier than water This density enables it to be used in water level gauges measuring inches of Mercury to feet of water; where each inch of Mercury read will support a column of water 1.13 feet high. Note Mercury’s ability to support heavy objects

12. Properties of Hg PPT-056-01 12 Allows us to determine atmospheric pressure

13. Historic Uses PPT-056-01 13 Fur removal from pelts to make hats in the mid- 1700s to mid-1800s Vapors from process were very toxic Mercury poisoning was said to make one “mad as a hatter” Also used in mining to separate gold and silver from ore to create an amalgam for recovery

14. Historic Uses PPT-056-01 14 1800s Treat depression Toothaches 1900s Laxatives Teething powders Mercurochrome

15. Historic Uses PPT-056-01 15 Through catalytic reactions, Hg is used to make polymers, chlorine and caustic soda, as well as to extract gold from ore

16. Historic Uses PPT-056-01 16 Fishing lures Lighthouse lenses Fire detectors Power plants: fossil and nuclear Separating chlorine and sodium from brine Thermometers

17. In-Home Uses PPT-056-01 17 Precautions are required due to the use of Mercury- containing materials in each household Other uses of Hg should instill safety considerations

18. In-Home Uses PPT-056-01 18 Mercury switches to control thermostats in our homes

19. In-Home Uses PPT-056-01 19 Wood preservative Making mirrors Herbicides Antiseptics Antidepressants Mercury battery for hearing aids Cosmetics

20. Fluorescent Lamp PPT-056-01 20 Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) More in use: less power to generate more light; last longer than conventional bulbs Injection of Mercury via broken glass may occur

21. Mercury Lamps PPT-056-01 21 Breakage from Hg lamps may appear insignificant and easy to remedy, but you should exercise due care and maximize safety when cleaning this up

22. Hg Forms PPT-056-01 22 Most toxic forms for Mercury Organic compounds: Dimethyl mercury Methyl mercury Inorganic compounds (such as cinnabar) highly toxic by ingestion and inhalation

23. Amalgams PPT-056-01 23 Hg dissolves to form amalgams with gold, zinc and other metals Hg reacts with aluminum to form a Mercury/aluminum amalgam This reacts with air resulting in aluminum oxide; corrodes aluminum, not allowed on aircraft because it may react with aircraft metal, thereby weakening it

24. Dental Use PPT-056-01 24 Dental amalgam contains Mercury Professionals agree fillings may release Mercury but opinions on health risks are diverse

25. Routes of Exposure PPT-056-01 25 Inhalation Primary route for elemental Mercury 75 percent to 80 percent is absorbed by lungs Vapors are heavier than air (vapor density: 6.9) Skin or Eye Contact Absorbed slowly through skin Causes irritation to skin and eyes and possibly contact dermatitis Ingestion Methyl mercury completely absorbed and not readily eliminated

26. Health Effects PPT-056-01 26 Inhalation of vapor; major exposure route Symptoms may include corrosive bronchitis progressing to pulmonary edema or fibrosis Mercury can cross the blood, brain and placental barriers, posing an increased risk to children Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Medical Management Guidelines for Mercury, found at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MMG/MMG.asp?id=106&tid=24

27. Food Chain Consequences PPT-056-01 27 Understanding the food chain allows us to understand how we might internalize Mercury State fishing laws are specific regarding the amount of fish which may be eaten on a daily basis after waterway studies have been made

28. Acute Health Effects PPT-056-01 28 System: Symptoms: Respiratory Cough, sore throat, shortness of breath Gastrointestinal Metallic taste, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain Central Nervous Headache, weakness, visual System disturbances

29. Chronic Exposure PPT-056-01 29 Mercury may accumulate in the body, resulting in permanent damage and changes to: Kidneys Nervous system Muscles

30. Atmospheric Hg in U.S. 1998 PPT-056-01 30 Due to air pollution and other releases of Hg into the atmosphere

31. Mercury Poisoning PPT-056-01 31 Mercury Poisoning may result from: Exposure to water-soluble forms of Mercury, i.e. Mercuric chloride or Methylmercury Inhalation of Mercury vapor or eating contaminated seafood Symptoms of Hg poisoning include: Mild gastritis to severe pain with vomiting Convulsions and numbness in mouth and limbs Visual field constriction Speaking difficulty

32. Mercury Poisoning PPT-056-01 32 In 1953, poisoning occurred in Japan when industrial waste was discharged into Minamata Bay; the waste contained Methyl mercury salts Aquatic microorganisms can convert mercury salts into methylated compounds (a methyl group attaches to Mercury atoms); these are easily absorbed into animal tissues Minamata residents ate the fish containing Mercury

33. Mercury Poisoning PPT-056-01 33 In the 1960’s and 1970’s in Iraq, wheat treated with Methyl mercury as a preservative due to being seed grain was fed to animals and consumed by people Resulted in neurological symptoms: Speech difficulties Narrowing of visual field Hearing impairment Blindness Death

34. Respirator Recommendations (NIOSH, Table 3 & 4) PPT-056-01 34 Mercury Vapor: Mercury compounds [except (organo) alkyls] (as Hg) Levels for concern: Up to 0.5 mg/m3 Up to 1.25 mg/m3 Up to 2.5 mg/m3 Up to 10 mg/m3 Emergency or planned entry into unknown concentrations or IDLH conditions Escape

35. Respirators PPT-056-01 35 Up to 0.5 mg/m 3 Any air-purifying half-mask respirator equipped with cartridge(s) providing protection against the compound of concern (APF 10) or Any supplied - air respirator (APF 10)

36. Respirators PPT-056-01 36 Up to 1.25 mg/m 3 Supplied-air respirator operated in a continuous-flow mode (APF 25) or Any powered air-purifying respirator with cartridge(s) providing protection against the compound of concern (APF 25) Canister with end of service life indicator

37. Respirators PPT-056-01 37 Up to 2.5 mg/m 3 Any air-purifying full-face piece respirator equipped with cartridge(s) providing protection against the compound of concern (APF 50) or Any air-purifying, full-face piece respirator (gas mask) with a chin-style, front- or back-mounted canister providing protection against the compound of concern (APF 50) ESLI required for canister, or

38. Respirators PPT-056-01 38 Up to 2.5 mg/m 3 (continued) Any supplied-air respirator that has a tight-fitting face piece and is operated in a continuous-flow mode (APF 50) or Any powered air-purifying respirator with a tight- fitting face piece and cartridge(s) providing protection against the compound of concern (APF 50) or

39. Respirators PPT-056-01 39 Up to 2.5 mg/m 3 (continued) Any self-contained breathing apparatus with a full face piece (APF 50) or Any supplied-air respirator with a full face piece (APF 50)

40. Respirators PPT-056-01 40 Up to 10 mg/m 3 Any supplied-air respirator operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode (APF 1,000)

41. Respirators PPT-056-01 41 Emergency or planned entry into unknown concentrations or IDLH conditions Any self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full face piece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode (APF 10,000) or

42. Respirators PPT-056-01 42 Any supplied-air respirator that has a full-face piece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary self-contained positive- pressure breathing apparatus (APF 10,000)

43. Respirators PPT-056-01 43 Escape Any air-purifying, full-face piece respirator (gas mask) with a chin-style, front- or back-mounted canister providing protection against the compound of concern. (APF 50) or Any appropriate escape-type, self-contained breathing apparatus. NIOSH has respirator recommendations for other mercury compounds as well: Mercury (organo) alkyl compounds (as Hg)

44. Personal Safety PPT-056-01 44 29 CFR 1910.252(c)(10) “In confined spaces or indoors, welding or cutting operations involving metals coated with mercury- bearing materials, including paint, must be done using local exhaust ventilation or airline respirators unless atmospheric tests under the most adverse conditions show that employee exposure is within the acceptable concentrations specified by 29 CFR 1910.1000. Such operations, when done outdoors, must be done using respirators approved for this purpose by NIOSH under 42 CFR part 84.”

45. Mercury Detectors PPT-056-01 45 Gas analyzer Direct Mercury analyzer Mercury vapor

46. Response Safety PPT-056-01 46 Plan for response to: Hg liquid Hg vapor events Have contingencies for: Rescuer safety Victim treatment Multi-casualty situations

47. Response Safety PPT-056-01 47 Personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff working in each zone: Hot Zone Warm Zone (Decon) Support Zone

48. Response Safety PPT-056-01 48 Having a response plan for smaller as well as larger types of potential emergencies will promote: Personnel safety Reduced downtime Reduced costs

49. Response Safety PPT-056-01 49 Elemental Hg is toxic in both the liquid and vapor form Although not as readily absorbed through the skin, the inhalation hazard is more severe Gloves and foot protection are recommended when dealing with liquid form

50. Response Safety PPT-056-01 50 However, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and chemical protective clothing (CPC) are recommended if dealing with heated vapor Decontaminate or dispose of clothing contacting liquid mercury

51. Decontamination PPT-056-01 51 Review response policies before a potential event Decon or remove and double-bag contaminated clothing Also bag all personal belongings (if you were on the Emergency Response Team, you shouldn’t have taken any personal items into the Hot Zone) Wash hair and exposed skin thoroughly Eyes should be flushed with water or saline for at least 5 minutes if exposed Initiate proper medical protocols

52. Chemical Substitutes for Hg PPT-056-01 52 Due to problems previously cited with the use of Mercury, chemical substitutes are sought One such substitute, called NewMerc by its originators, is a “nontoxic, electrically-conductive, liquid alloy alternative” It is based on gallium and indium alloyed with tin Various applications exist including float switches for waste water, bilge pumps on ships and sump pumps for homes Further study should result in additional uses Alan Brown, “Nontoxic Liquid Metal Alloy Could Substitute For Mercury,” from Chemical Online, April 19, 1999, found at http://www.chemicalonline.com/doc.mvc/Nontoxic-Liquid-Metal-Alloy-Could-Substitute- 0001

53. Texts to Assist Your Planning PPT-056-01 53

54. Selected Bibliography PPT-056-01 54  Eugene Meyer, Chemistry of Hazardous Materials, Prentice-Hall Inc., 1977  NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards  http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0383.html  Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Medical Management Guidelines for Mercury  http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MMG/MMG.asp?id=106&tid=24  Philippe Grandjean, Hiroshi Satoh, Katsuyuki Murata, and Komyo Eto, “Adverse Effects of Methylmercury: Environmental Health Research Implications,” published in Environmental Health Perspectives, August 2010 (published online June 8, 2010)  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2920086/  Alan Brown, “Nontoxic Liquid Metal Alloy Could Substitute For Mercury,” from Chemical Online, April 19, 1999  http://www.chemicalonline.com/doc.mvc/Nontoxic-Liquid-Metal-Alloy-Could- Substitute-0001

55. Questions PPT-056-01 55