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Mercury FAQs

Contacts & Resources

*** If a product containing mercury breaks in your home or office, do not hesitate to call your local fire department or dial 911 for instructions/assistance.  *** If you have liquid mercury and would like a free pickup, please call Barnstable County Hazardous Materials Program at 800-319-2783. They will respond to all calls and arrange a free pickup. No fuss, no fees.  *** If you have questions about mercury or managing it safely, call 866-963-7287.

What is Mercury?

Mercury is a naturally occurring metallic element that is toxic to people and the environment. It is found in many common items, including:

  • Thermometers
  • Fluorescent bulbs
  • Thermostats
  • Some topical disinfectants, older medications, nasal sprays, ointments, and contact lens solutions
  • Certain bleaches, detergents, stain removers, and soaps
  • Batteries, latex paint, and pesticides made before 1990
  • Button batteries found in watches, calculators, hearing aids, and electronics
  • Pilot lights in gas appliances
  • Switches in certain automatic shut-off irons, car trunks, fire alarms, and septic tanks
Mercury is not harmful if it stays inside an item but, when a product containing mercury is broken, thrown in the trash or poured down the drain, it accumulates in the environment, polluting air and water, and accumulating in fish.  Mercury most commonly poisons humans by breathing invisible vapors (inhalation), by eating contaminated fish (ingestion), and/or by touching mercury directly (dermal).
 
How can I protect myself and my family?
 
  • Avoid putting mercury-containing products in the trash or down the drain. Many communities have household hazardous waste collection events or sites where you can safely dispose of these items.  Learn more about where to dispose of mercury products and other household hazardous products at Recyclopedia.
  • Never touch spilled mercury. Keep people and pets away and open windows to ventilate the area. Don't sweep or vacuum spilled mercury up.  If a person or a pet has come into contact with mercury, contact a medical professional immediately.
  • Check product labels. Buy mercury-free alternatives.
  • Be aware of fish consumption advisories. Eating contaminated fish can be harmful for your health.

What are the public health effects of Mercury?

There are several different forms of mercury. Some are more dangerous than others, but all are toxic. Depending on type and amount, exposure to mercury can damage a person's nervous system, brain, kidneys, liver, and immune system.

  • Methylmercury is extremely poisonous and can damage the brain even at low levels. People may be exposed to this type of mercury by eating contaminated fish.
  • Elemental mercury, the silvery liquid found in some thermometers and switches, is most dangerous when inhaled and needs to be handled with care.

Children are most sensitive to mercury exposure, which can irreversibly damage their developing brains and nervous systems.  Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant need to be careful too, since exposure can happen in the womb if they eat contaminated fish.

What are the environmental effects of Mercury?

Mercury can be found at low levels almost everywhere, but the burning of coal and trash have greatly increased its levels in the environment.  The environmental impacts of mercury can be local, or carried across whole regions or entire continents by the wind.  In lakes, ponds and the ocean, mercury can be transformed by natural processes into a more toxic form called methylmercury, which enters the food chain when small organisms absorb it.

  • Fish. Small fish eat contaminated plankton and algae, then in turn are eaten by larger fish. Mercury accumulates and becomes concentrated in the predatory fish at levels of up to a million times higher than in the water they live in.
  • Other wildlife. For fish-eating creatures such as eagles, osprey, loons, turtles, mink and otters, mercury in the diet can cause weight loss, disrupt reproduction, and lead to early death.
  • A long-term problem. Once in the environment, mercury persists for a long time and never degrades into a harmless substance.

Because mercury persists for so long, it takes many years for mercury levels in fish to drop significantly. It is important to be aware of and follow fish consumption advisories.  Click HERE to view the latest Fish Consumption Advisories.