In our daily lives, we often encounter various unexpected situations, one of which is that the mercury thermometer is broken. In this case, doctors often remind us: don't sweep, what is the correct way? This article will explain the answer to this question and provide you with the correct way to deal with it.
First, we need to understand the properties of mercury. Mercury is a toxic metallic element that evaporates extremely quickly. Once the thermometer ruptures, the mercury quickly evaporates, forming small particles that are invisible to the naked eye and can be inhaled by airborne dust or animals, causing harm to the human body. Therefore, it is very important to properly handle the case of a broken thermometer.
So, is it okay not to sweep? Actually,The correct thing to do is to use pieces of cardboard or tape to collect the mercury beads and place them in a closed container, such as a well-sealed beverage can. This prevents the mercury from continuing to evaporate and reduces the pollution to the environment. At the same time, to prevent being inhaled, we should keep the room well ventilated and avoid letting pets or small children near the area.
Next, let's analyze the dangers of error handling. Some people may choose to use a broom or vacuum cleaner to clean broken glass or other mercury particles, but it is a mistake to do so. Because these tools do not effectively collect mercury particles, they may instead diffuse them into the air, increasing the risk of inhalation.
In addition, there may be concerns about cleaning up with a damp cloth or paper towel. Actually,Wet cloths or paper towels are not effective at absorbing mercury liquids, but may cause mercury to evaporate in a humid environment, further increasing the risk of environmental pollution.
To sum it up,The correct way to dispose of it is to use pieces of cardboard or tape to collect the mercury beads and place them in a closed container. During this process, it is also very important to keep the room well ventilated and avoid letting pets or small children near the area. In short, in the case of broken mercury thermometers, we should take the correct way to deal with them to ensure environmental safety and avoid health hazards.