Office or Environmental Health and Safety

Mercury Management and Spill Response

Mercury is a metal that occurs naturally in the environment in several forms. The most common form, metallic or elemental mercury, is a silvery, odorless heavy metal that is liquid at room temperature, and is the form commonly found in household thermometers. Elemental mercury can evaporate at room temperature to form a vapor. Mercury is toxic by inhalation, absorption through the skin, and ingestion. Mercury can escape to the environment when items containing mercury are broken or improperly discarded. Whether the items are dumped in sewers, garbage cans or burned, some of the mercury will eventually enter the atmosphere.

Exposure to high levels of metallic, inorganic or organic mercury can damage the nervous system and kidneys. Studies have shown that people who ate fish and grain which contained large amounts of methyl mercury had permanent damage to the nervous system and kidneys. Exposure to methyl mercury is more of a concern for children and unborn babies because their nervous systems are still developing and the nervous system is a target organ for mercury. Health effects might include brain damage, behavioral and developmental problems.

Mercury Reduction

Connecticut College is committed to reducing the amount of mercury used and stored on campus. By reducing the amount of mercury containing equipment, particularly in science laboratories, we can substantially reduce or eliminate the risk of spills.

• Wherever possible, substitute non-mercury temperature measuring devices in teaching and research laboratories, e.g., alcohol or digital thermometers.
• Wherever possible, specify the use of non-mercury devices for measuring pressure, etc.
• Wherever possible identify mercury devices or mercury metal which are no longer needed but may be utilized by another researcher or laboratory. If unused or unneeded, designate mercury containing devices for disposal(recycling), rather than storage.
• Procure mercury in the smallest quantities available which meet the maximum usage requirements. It is more economical for Connecticut College to repurchase additional quantities of mercury when needed than to declare excess quantities of mercury for disposal.
• Wherever possible, eliminate the use of mercury wetted switches.

Elemental Mercury Spill Response

• Small Spills: Less than or equal to the amount in a thermometer.
• Medium Spills: (More than the amount in a thermometer, but less than 2 tablespoons.
• Large Spills: Greater than One Pound (Two Tablespoons).

In the event of a elemental mercury spill of any size:

1. Evacuate room occupants (including animals.).
2. Secure the area, to keep people from walking through and tracking the mercury outside of the spill area.
3. Turn off the heat. Heat volatilizes mercury, creating airborne mercury vapors.
4. Turn off the ventilation. The ventilation system could distribute mercury vapors throughout the building.
5. Open the window(s) to help remove any vapors.
6. Notify the Director of Environmental Health & Safety. The Director of EH&S will evaluate the situation, and will clean small spills. Mercury spills larger than the quantity found in a thermometer will be cleaned by a HAZMAT spill contractor.

Note: The Connecticut DEP requires notification of all mercury spills, regardless of the quantity. Notification to the National Response Center (EPA) is required for spills in excess of 1 pound (two tablespoons).. Spill notification is the responsibility of the Director of EH&S.

Broken Fluorescent Lamps and Tubes

As mentioned on the Universal Waste Management web page, fluorescent light fixtures contain a very small amount of mercury containing vapor, and depending upon its age, elemental mercury.

1. If you break a fluorescent lamp or tube, do not vacuum the the debris up with a standard vacuum cleaner! (For vacuum cleaning, only vacuums designed specifically for hazardous waste may be used.)
2. Instead of vacuuming, don a pair of latex gloves and carefully pick up the larger glass fragments. Thoroughly clean the spill with a damp disposable sponge or paper towel, to remove all glass fragments and associated mercury containing phosphorus powder.
3. Keep all people and animals away from the spill so that mercury-containing debris is not tracked into other areas.
4. Keep the area well ventilated to disperse any vapors. Avoid creating airborne dust from the spilled phosphorus powder.
5. After clean up is complete, place all fragments and debris, along with cleaning materials into a sealable plastic bag or other container. Label the bag or container "Hazardous Waste - Broken Fluorescent Lamp".
6. Wash your hands.
7. Give the broken lamp to a custodian, or take it to Physical Plant, where it will be properly labeled and stored pending disposal. Alternatively, fill out and affix a orange "Hazardous Waste" label, and place in one of the 180 storage facilities.

LInks and Resources

• EPA Mercury Homepage
• EPA's List of Mercury Containing Items
• CT DEP Mercury Education and Reduction Homepage