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US Senate votes to ban mercury fever thermometers
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE ^
| September 9, 2002
Posted on 09/10/2002 9:56:27 AM PDT by Korth
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To: Tony Niar Brain
say a thermometer-full, can contaminate a LARGE area, especially if it makes its way to the groundwater. BS! Mecury is not water soluble.
To: Korth
I used to play with liquid mercury as a kid. Now they'd call out the frikkin Haz-mat squad.
Mercury has a low vapor pressure. Ask Torricelli (the one who invented the mercury barometer).
If you heat the metal (boil it) the fumes are deadly.
The liquid metal is about as dangerous as laundry soap at room temperature. I wouldn't recommend drinking it...
--Boris
142
posted on
09/10/2002 6:32:46 PM PDT
by
boris
To: general_re
Dimethyl mercury is not metallic mercury.
--Boris
143
posted on
09/10/2002 6:34:28 PM PDT
by
boris
To: discostu
I think it's made up. In my entire life I've only thrown out one thermometer, it got dropped and broke (played with the mercury for a couple of hours, cool stuff) I got ya beat. I've bought only one mercury thermometer about 18 years ago and plan on keeping it for 18 more.
I think every kid or adult has played with mercury at least once, Yes cool stuff.
To: demlosers
Bought?! I filched a couple from my mom when I moved out, a couple more came with my wife, I thought thermometers were heirlooms.
To: Tony Niar Brain
Is that why there was zero dissent in the Senate on this vote? No, it's because Ron Paul is only a Rep...
To: LurkingSince'98
Those in the know realize when people speak of contaminating groundwater it is methyl mercury NOT the metallic mercury in thermometers. I work with it everyday.
Lurking
If what you say is true and I have no facts to the contrary then what we have here is another con-job being perpetrated upon the American citizen by the lying, meddling congress who in fact have very little credibility left to squander!
147
posted on
09/10/2002 6:53:56 PM PDT
by
VOYAGER
To: discostu
Yes bought it. The next time I visit my parents, I'll "filch" theirs. That thing must be almost 50 years old -- I'll take my rightful inheritance, my heirloom. Hehe...
To: Korth
Mercury is an element.You cannot make more or less of it.there is a constant amount of mercury present in this world.If you shot it off into space on a rocket I guess you could get rid of some,but that sounds ridiculous.The greens would probably raise their eyebrows on that,but they probably don't care for rockets(exhaust).;)
To: boris
Dimethyl mercury is not metallic mercury. True. But the symptoms of overexposure are similar for both substances, which is why I linked to that as well, as it gave a good description of the symptoms of mercury poisoning. On the other hand, I specifically chose that particular account of that event because it left out the ultimate conclusion - she later died, but I didn't want to alarm anyone ;)
To: folklore
If I throw a thermometer into a 40 acre lake , will I only contaninate half of the fish? And if so, which half?Either the front half or the back half, I suppose...it depends on whether it was a rectal or oral thermometer...
To: tracer
An African swallow-sure!
To: general_re; Bernard Marx
>>It's pretty certain the Roman aristocracy went downhill mentally from the combination of inbreeding and the use of lead plumbing and dinnerware<<
But how do you explain Congress?
To: Jim Noble
Some things are just beyond our understanding ;)
To: Jim Noble
But how do you explain Congress? Maybe it's the lead in their butts, Jim.
To: Bernard Marx
Removing it is one of the nastier jobs a jeweler faces.
Old technique here:
-Halve a potato and create a cavity within, large enough to contain the mercury contaminated jewelry item.
-Place the item into the hollow and bind the halves together with cotton string.
-Place potato into a pan of water and bring to a boil then simmer for 15-20 min.
-Let the water and potato cool, remove the item, wash and brush with a little detergent and ammonia (depending on set stones), a pass through the rouge cloth and viola! The mercury has gone and the ring is gleaming.
This works on intricate items like neck chains and if conducted outdoors, presents little to no danger as the mercury stays in the water on the bottom of the pan.
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