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What do the necklaces look like?
The necklaces are often a beaded chain, cord, or
leather strand with a glass pendant that contains mercury. The mercury appears as a silvery clump of liquid that
rolls around in the hollow glass pendant. The glass pendant may
also be filled with brightly colored liquid - red, green, blue, yellow
- along with the mercury. Pendants can come in various shapes
such as hearts, bottles, balls, saber teeth, and chili peppers.
What is the concern?
Mercury is released when the glass is
broken or when it leaks around the pendant's cord anchor. Once
mercury spills, it breaks into tiny beads that can roll into cracks in
floor coverings or walls, or become trapped in carpet. If
spilled in or around heating ducts, mercury can quickly vaporize and
possibly spread
throughout the building or home. Without proper cleanup, people may
be exposed to
hazardous mercury vapors.
Do mercury vapors
affect my health?
Very small amounts of liquid mercury,
just a few drops, can vaporize and reach levels that may
be harmful to
health. At high levels, mercury vapors may cause effects such as
respiratory difficulties (shortness of breath, pain and tightness in the
chest, and coughing), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood
pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, and eye irritation. Exposure to
mercury vapors can also lead to damage of the central nervous
system. The severity of harm depends on the level of mercury you are
exposed to, the length
of your exposure, and your individual sensitivity. Central nervous system effects may
include irritability, shyness, tremors, changes in vision or hearing, and
memory problems. Developing fetuses and young children are particularly
vulnerable to the health effects of mercury.
What to do about
a mercury spill?
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Do not attempt to
cleanup a mercury spill.
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Especially, do not use a vacuum cleaner to cleanup
a spill. A vacuum cleaner will spread mercury vapors
into the air and increase the exposure.
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Contact:
Who do I contact on proper
disposal of mercury necklaces?
Take your unbroken necklaces to a household hazardous waste collection
center that accepts mercury. For the nearest collection center
to
you, contact:
Call the collection center for instructions in how to properly
transport the necklaces, or seal the necklaces
in a hard plastic container.
Additional
Information
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