Mercury is a heavy metal that has many health and environmental risks, and the World Health Organization has placed mercury among the ten chemicals that constitute a major public health concern, as a result of its very toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes. 

 Mercury is a chemical element with symbol (Hg) and atomic number 80, and it is a silver liquid, its chemical number is (7439-97-6), its density is (13.55 g/cm3), and it evaporates at room (25 °C).  

 

•Batteries. 

• Dosimetry devices, such as thermometers and barometers. 

• Switches and relays located in the equipment. 

• Lamps (including some types of light bulbs). 

• Dental amalgams (used in dental fillings). 

• Skin lightening products and other cosmetics. 

• Pharmaceuticals. 

 

• ​H330: Fatal if inhaled. 

• H360: May cause damage the fetus. 

• H372: Causes organ damage through repeated or prolonged exposure. 

• H410: Highly toxic to aquatic organisms with long-lasting effects. ​

 

The following are the factors that determine the health effects that exposure can have and their severity: 

• The type of mercury involved. 

• Intake dose. 

• Age or stage of development of the person at risk (fetuses are most at risk). 

• length of exposure. 

• Method of exposure (inhalation, ingestion or contact with skin). 

 

• Mercury and methylmercury are toxic to the central nervous system, and inhaling mercury vapor can have harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys, and can be fatal.  

• Inorganic mercury salts erode the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and can poison the kidneys if ingested. 

 

• Human activity contributes to the bulk of the release of mercury into the environment. Every year, up to 9,000 tons of mercury are released into the atmosphere, into water and on the Earth's surface.  

• International efforts have been concerted to reduce releases of mercury and mercury compounds into the environment, resulting in Minamata, a global mercury convention to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.  

• Minamata Convention is named after the city of Minamata in Japan. 

• Signed on 10 October 2014 and entered into force on 16 August 2017. 

• The State of Qatar acceded to the Convention on 4 November 2020, becoming the 125th State. 

• On 10 March 2021, Decree No. (14) of 2021 Approving the Accession of the State of Qatar to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, was issued. 

 

• The danger of liquid mercury lies in the fact that it evaporates at room temperature and thus mercury atoms mix with air without being perceived by humans, especially since they are odorless and colorless. When humans inhale this air, mercury atoms enter the lungs and thus reach the blood and brain. 

• Close the place where the contamination occurred and clear it of all people in it. Turn off the air conditioners so that the spilled mercury vapors do not spread. 

• Wear a mask to prevent inhalation of mercury vapors. 

• It is preferable to wear old clothes when dealing with mercury spills, even if contaminated they are thrown away. 

• Remove all the jewelry from the hand so that the mercury does not stick to it (Amalgamate). 

• Wear rubber or latex gloves to prevent mercury from being absorbed through the skin. 

• Carefully place all broken parts of the thermometer or other in a zip lock bag, secure this bag well, write it as contaminated with mercury and mark it with toxic waste if possible. 

• Collect all the mercury beads scattered with caution, and if the lighting is poor, you can use the battery light and place it at an oblique angle close to the ground and the drops are clearly visible as they radiate (Glistening Beads of Mercury). 

• Use an eyedropper bottle or needle-free syringe to suction mercury droplets, and carefully transfer them to an unbreakable reinforced plastic can with a locking lid with 5-10 ml of water. The plastic can is placed in a tightly closed plastic bag. Put a little Sulfur or Zinc powder in the spill site that forms a colorful compound that can be easily seen. 

• Put all the materials you used to clean the mercury in a sealing bag or container, close it well and mark it as hazardous materials. 

• Final Disposal: These contaminated items are handed over to the authorities concerned with the disposal of toxic chemicals in accordance with the national procedures and regulations in force in the country. 

• The windows remain open in the mercury spill zone for at least 24 hours after the cleaning process until good and complete ventilation of the place occurs. 

• If a worker inhales and any symptoms appear, a doctor should be consulted immediately.