DEQ issues warning about mercury in toy jewelry
A broken pendant that contained mercury. (Photo from DEQ) By KLEW Web StaffBOISE - The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has issued a warning about mercury in toy jewelry. DEQ says mercury-filled glass pendants pose a serious health risk at home and in the classroom. MultimediaIf the glass is broken or leaks around the pendant's cord anchor, highly toxic liquid mercury is released and vaporizes. Even brief inhaling of mercury vapors can cause shortness of breath, chest pain and tightness, coughing, and increase in blood pressure or heart rate. High exposures can result in permanent brain or kidney damage, according to DEQ. There have been two recent mercury incidents in Idaho involving jewelry. One at Borah High School and one in the Shoshone School District. DEQ advises parents to dispose of necklaces, thermometers, or other objects containing mercury by sealing in hard plastic containers and taking to a household hazardous waste collection center that accepts mercury. If no center is available, DEQ recommends contacting the county solid waste department for safe disposal options. DEQ also advises schools to be prepared to deal with mercury spills by Schools are also encouraged to obtain mercury spill cleanup kits from a safety supplier or analytical laboratory and to establish emergency plans for small spills (less than 2 tablespoons) and for large spills (more than 2 tablespoons or one pound). To avoid mercury spills, schools are advised to replace items such as If a small spill occurs, such as breakage of a mercury-containing necklace or thermometer, schools are advised to immediately remove everyone from the spill area, leaving any contaminated shoes, clothing, and broken materials with the spill, lower the temperature in the room, close all doors leading to other areas, ventilate the room by opening windows to the outside, and contacting a commercial spill response firms or the designated competent person to clean up the spill. In the event of a large spill, schools should immediately evacuate affected rooms, open windows and doors leading to the outside, close interior doors to other rooms, lower the temperature, turn off heating and air conditioning, and call the Idaho State Communications Center (800) 632-8000 or the fire department for assistance. Keep the area secured until help arrives and get professional help for cleanup. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has spent over $1 million in Idaho in the last three years cleaning up elemental mercury spills, not counting the money spent by insurance companies, state agencies, and entities with the spill, several of which have been schools. Most Popular |
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