Mercury Spills

Mercury Spill Procedures

The following procedures must be followed in the event of a mercury spill:

1. Call Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) at 765-494-0121 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) to report the spill. EHS will provide assistance.
2. Call the Purdue Public Safety Dispatch Center at 765-494-8221 after business hours to report the spill. Dispatchers will contact EHS to provide assistance.
3. If possible, contain the spill. An attempt should be made to prevent mercury from entering drains, cracks or other crevices.
4. Keep people away from the spill area. Before leaving the area, check for mercury on clothing and the bottom of shoes. If mercury is visible on any articles of clothing or shoes, remove and keep those articles in the area.

Never pour mercury down the drain or dispose of in the trash. All mercury, including contaminated debris, must be collected for disposal.

Mercury can be found in a variety of non-laboratory items such as fluorescent light bulbs, thermometers, older pressure gauges, plumbing traps and vacuum pumps. When mercury is spilled, it forms beads or droplets that can accumulate in the tiniest places. These droplets can emit vapors into the air that are unseen and odorless. Breathing mercury vapors can be very dangerous, depending on the amount inhaled and the length of exposure to the contaminated air.

Amount of elemental mercury in various items:

• Fluorescent light bulbs: 10-40 mg
• Thermometers: 50 mg-3 g
• Older pressure gauges: 3-10 g
• Plumbing traps: 100 g-several pounds