Mercury
Your Health and the Environment

Exposure through Consumer Products

Q18. Which consumer products are known to contain mercury?
Despite its toxic nature, humans have used mercury in a range of products in order to take advantage of its unique properties to conduct electricity, measure temperature and pressure, and to act as a fungicide, preservative and disinfectant. These uses have been in decline in recent years.
Mercury-containing products currently used in Canada include the following:

• Fluorescent lamps, high intensity discharge lamps and mercury vapour lamps;
• Some fever thermometers;
• Some thermostats;
• Some electrical switches;
• Some medical equipment such as pressure sensing devices and blood pressure gauges;
• Dental amalgam;
• Disk ("button") batteries.

Other products that have been known to contain mercury in the past and that might still be in circulation, include:

• Lighted athletic shoes;
• Old latex and oil based paints;
• Vacuum gauges;
• Solvents, dyes and pigments;
• Wooden windows and doors;
• Barometers and manometers;
• Pottery and art objects;
• Pharmaceuticals including human and animal vaccines and cosmetics;
• Fungicides for seed and turf;
• Old toys, chemistry sets and scientific apparatus.

Also, note that mercury is no longer used in the manufacture of vinyl blinds, candles, shot, fishing jiggers or sinkers.

Q19. Why was mercury used in paints and what should I do about mercury-based paint in my home?
Mercury was used in paints as an anti-microbial pesticide or preservative in order to prevent mould growth. This practice ceased more than 10 years ago. It is possible that homes more than 10 years old have paint on their walls and/or ceilings that contains minute quantities of mercury. This should pose virtually no health risks to inhabitants of these homes. Once a mercury-containing paint has cured, the mercury is incorporated into the paint matrix and cannot be released.

There is no need to remove mercury-containing paint from homes where it has been applied. If there is any concern over the presence of mercury-containing paint on walls or ceilings, application of a fresh coat of new paint will seal in all of the layers of paint beneath it and provide some peace of mind.

When stripping old paint, follow the instructions and recommendations found in the following pamphlets in order to ensure safe working conditions:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/iyh/products/paint_strippers.html
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/iyh/leadpaint.html

Q20. As an artist, how can I reduce exposure to mercury?
Follow safe studio practices for reducing exposure to chemicals, such as the following:

• Do not eat, drink or smoke while using art materials;
• Always wash your hands carefully after using art materials;
• Use fume hoods or spray booths exhausting to the outside, or force the air to the outside by using fans;
• Be aware of the supplies you buy and, if available, obtain a Material Safety Data Sheet in order to ascertain the contents of the paint (mercury may be a preservative) used for arts and crafts.
• The following Health Canada webpage provides more information on precautionary practices for the artisan:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/iyh/products/arts.html

Q21. Does mercury in children's toys represent a hazard?
Health Canada's Consumer Product Safety Bureau is unaware of any manufacturers intentionally adding mercury to toys. If mercury were to be found in toys, it could represent a hazard, because children, especially under the age of three, tend to place objects in their mouths. In addition, the Hazardous Products Act prohibits the use of mercury in decorative or protective coatings applied to toys, equipment and other products destined for the educational or recreational use of children. The Consumer Product Safety Bureau has conducted surveys to ensure that toys do meet these requirements.

Q22. What can I do to manage mercury exposure in my home?
Although some consumer products such as electrical switches and fever thermometers still contain mercury, most products today can be manufactured without it. Because pollution prevention is preferable to pollution clean-up, consumers can help reduce mercury releases by identifying household items that might contain mercury, avoiding the purchase of mercury-containing products, and disposing of mercury-containing waste appropriately.

The best way to avoid mercury exposure from consumer products is to limit the presence of mercury-containing items in your home. Buy rechargeable batteries or batteries that are labelled "mercury free" or "no added mercury", and use digital or spirit (red) thermometers.

There is little chance for exposure to mercury when proper directions are followed for mercury-containing products. If unbroken, fluorescent light bulbs and mercury thermometers emit no mercury and are safe household items. If a breakage does occur, the risk of inhaling mercury vapour can increase, especially in enclosed indoor spaces with poor ventilation.

Q23. What happens when I use metallic mercury unsafely in the home?
At room temperature and especially when heated, elemental mercury produces a vapour that can cause serious lung damage and possible death if inhaled. In addition, as mercury cools, it condenses on household surfaces such as rugs, walls and furniture. These household surfaces can then continue to release low concentrations of mercury vapour slowly into the air. Mercury vapour is invisible, odourless and tasteless, and adults and children breathing this vapour at low levels for weeks or months will accumulate mercury in their bodies and may eventually become ill.

Q24. What should I do with a mercury-containing product when it has reached the end of its useful life?
Never discard mercury-containing products with household trash. Treat these items as hazardous waste and consult your local municipality for information on proper handling and disposal.

Q25. How should I clean up a mercury spill in my home (including a broken mercury fever thermometer)?
If mercury is burned, heated, sprinkled or spilled in the home, a poisonous gas can be produced, requiring a clean-up procedure. Mercury vapour is odourless and invisible, and special equipment is required to measure mercury concentrations in the home. A professional can determine the areas of the house that are affected by measuring the level of mercury vapour with special equipment, and by assessing how mercury was used in the house.
The amount of mercury found in household products does not usually lead to serious health problems and can often be cleaned up without the help of a trained professional. However, even small spills should be treated as hazardous and cleaned up with caution. Remember to report these spills to the local environmental health authorities. Depending on the size of the spill, hiring a Contractor to monitor mercury levels in air, and to conduct a professional clean-up, may be advisable. There are also commercially available small mercury spill kits that can be obtained. Never vacuum a mercury spill with a household vacuum cleaner. It will increase the vaporization of the mercury.

A few helpful hints to remember are:

• Do not put contaminated items in the washing machine;
• Do not vacuum the spill;
• Do not use a broom or a brush;
• Do not pour mercury down the drain; and
• Do not throw mercury or contaminated items in the garbage.

Risks to exposure from mercury can be minimized by taking the effective steps described in the Environment Canada website accessible through the following link:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/mercury/en/index.cfm

Q26. How much mercury is released from cigarette smoke?
Cigarette smoke contains up to 11.5 nanograms of mercury per cigarette in mainstream smoke and up to 16.6 nanograms of mercury per cigarette in side stream smoke.

Q27. What is the source of mercury in cigarettes?
Mercury is taken into the plant primarily by the growing root and subsequently translocated to the leaves along with other nutrients. Mercury exists in the tobacco plant as a result of its deposition from the air, combined with the soil uptake of mercury. It is released in tobacco smoke as the cigarette burns, and exposure to tobacco smoke contributes to the total body burden of mercury.