revised final - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ...

MERCURY 460
5. POTENTIAL FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE
Wendroff 1990; Zayas and Ozuah 1996). Azogue may be recommended by family members, spiritualists,
card readers, and santeros. Typically, azogue is carried on one's person in a sealed pouch, or it is ritually
sprinkled in the home or car. Some store owners suggest mixing azogue in bath water or perfume. Some
people place azogue in devotional candles. Because metallic mercury evaporates into the air, there is a
potential health risk from exposure to mercury vapors in a room where the mercury is sprinkled or spilled
onto the floor, put in candles, or where open containers of metallic mercury are present (ATSDR 1997;
Wendroff 1990, 1991). Young children spend a lot of time crawling on the floor and carpeting, so they may
be subject to a higher risk of exposure, especially when mercury is sprinkled on the floors or carpets.
Very small amounts of metallic mercury (i.e., a few drops) may raise air concentrations of mercury to levels
that could be harmful to health (ATSDR 1997). Metallic mercury and its vapors are extremely difficult to
remove from clothes, furniture, carpet, floors, walls, and other such items. The mercury contamination can
remain for months or years, and may pose a significant health risk for people continually exposed (ATSDR
1997; Johnson [in press]; Wendroff 1990, 1991).
Another potential source of children’s exposure to metallic mercury is breakage or improper disposal of a
variety of household products, including thermostats, fluorescent light bulbs, barometers, glass
thermometers, and some blood pressure machines that contain metallic mercury (ATSDR 1997). These
devices do not pose a health threat when the mercury is properly contained within the device. Should the
mercury be released, however, the potential for mercury vapors to contaminate the air increases. The
appropriate method for cleaning up a spill of a small amount of mercury is to clean it up manually, without
using a vacuum cleaner, which can cause the mercury to evaporate more rapidly into the air, creating a
greater risk of exposure (ATSDR 1997; Schwartz et al. 1992; Votaw and Zey 1991). Votaw and Zey 1991
reported mean mercury concentrations in air samples collected in a dental office were 8.5 µ/m 3 when a
vacuum cleaner was not in use and concentrations rose to 69 µ/m3 when a vacuum cleaner was in use.
Special techniques are often needed to prevent mercury vapor from being generated in the cleanup process
(Votaw and Zey 1991). The first consideration is to remove children from the area of the spill. The beads of
metallic mercury should be cleaned up by carefully rolling them onto a sheet of paper or by drawing them up
into an eye dropper. After the mercury has been collected, it should be put in a plastic bag or airtight
container. The piece of paper or eye dropper used to remove the mercury should also be bagged and
disposed of properly, according to guidance provided by the local health department. After the mercury has
been removed, the room should be ventilated to the outside and closed off to the rest of the house. Electric
fans should be used for a minimum of one hour to speed the ventilation process. If larger quantities of