This fact sheet is intended to be a quick reference tool for people who are
involved in a mercury spill and cleanup event.
MERCURY Mercury mercury MERCURY MERCURY MERCURY
Elemental mercury, also called “quicksilver,” is a heavy, silvery, form of the
metal mercury that is liquid at room temperature. It can slowly change from a
liquid into a gas that is invisible to the naked eye. The gas or “vapors” that are
released will start to fill a room if mercury is spilled indoors.
MERCURY EXPOSURE
Mercury is a very toxic or poisonous substance that people can be exposed to
in several ways. If it is swallowed, like from a broken thermometer, it mostly
passes through your body and very little is absorbed. If you touch it, a small
amount may pass through your skin, but not usually enough to harm you.
Mercury is most harmful when you breathe in the vapors that are released
when a container is open or a spill occurs.
HEALTH EFFECTS
Pregnant women, infants and young children are particularly sensitive to the
harmful effects of mercury. The health effects that can result from mercury
exposure depend on how much mercury you are exposed to and how long you
are exposed.
Some of the acute effects, ones that may come soon after exposure to high
concentrations of mercury are:
• Headaches, chills, fever
• chest tightness, coughs
• hand tremors
• nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea
