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Mercury ( HG )
I have just found 500 gms of Mercury in my shed, can I legally sell it online, how much shall I ask . Thanks
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I'm afraid you would be taking a big risk in trying to sell mercury in the manner you describe. Metallic mercury is a component in many types of improvised explosive devices and the metal itself is a starting point for the production of many extremely poisonous mercury compounds.
Purchase or sale of mercury has been of interest to the UK National Counter Terrorism Security Office for some considerable time. In turn, dubious sales or acquisitions are referred to the local police for investigation. Currently, the only exceptions to this rule are legitimate research laboratories who can justify either the need or the sale of the element. Sales via eBay etc are of particular interest to the NCTSO.
There is also the problem of transportation. The Royal Mail specifically prohibits the carriage of toxic substances and Mercury is included in this category. Furthermore, I doubt you'll find an alternative carrier for the mercury due to it's recognised hazardous nature. I've been nearby during half a dozen spillages of Mercury during my university career and believe me, the "mopping-up" procedures and exclusion zones put in place by the emergency services have to be seen to be believed. You really don't want to be blamed for such a major incident. The fact that you have a mere 37ml of mercury makes no difference.
As far as the cost is concerned, 500g of redistilled mercury is currently available for around £43 with one chemical supplier we use at university. I'd suggest to you that given the extreme toxicity of what you've found in your shed, you would be best to contact your local council and ask if they can dispose of it legitimately for you.
If your mercury found it's way into a terrorists hands, the consequences for you could be catastrophic.
Purchase or sale of mercury has been of interest to the UK National Counter Terrorism Security Office for some considerable time. In turn, dubious sales or acquisitions are referred to the local police for investigation. Currently, the only exceptions to this rule are legitimate research laboratories who can justify either the need or the sale of the element. Sales via eBay etc are of particular interest to the NCTSO.
There is also the problem of transportation. The Royal Mail specifically prohibits the carriage of toxic substances and Mercury is included in this category. Furthermore, I doubt you'll find an alternative carrier for the mercury due to it's recognised hazardous nature. I've been nearby during half a dozen spillages of Mercury during my university career and believe me, the "mopping-up" procedures and exclusion zones put in place by the emergency services have to be seen to be believed. You really don't want to be blamed for such a major incident. The fact that you have a mere 37ml of mercury makes no difference.
As far as the cost is concerned, 500g of redistilled mercury is currently available for around £43 with one chemical supplier we use at university. I'd suggest to you that given the extreme toxicity of what you've found in your shed, you would be best to contact your local council and ask if they can dispose of it legitimately for you.
If your mercury found it's way into a terrorists hands, the consequences for you could be catastrophic.
chakka35, I'm very grateful that you've raised this point. I'm afraid that there's a popular misconception in society that because mercury is insoluble (some regard it as inert) and is used in tooth fillings that it means that mercury is non-toxic. This is not the case. Elemental mercury is very poisonous in its own right.
To illustrate the point, when someone tells me that mercury is non-poisonous, I always suggest that they Google the phrase "as mad as a hatter". The phrase is usually attributed to the time when workers used to impregnate fur and felt with mercury salts and mercury itself in poorly-ventilated workshops during the manufacture of hats. As Mercury is an accumulative poison, many workers succumbed to mercury poisoning with symptoms such as uncontrollable trembling, slurred speech. teeth loosening, depression, anxiety and personality changes.
The following Oxford University link outlines the hazardous nature of mercury and is derived from a typical supplier Material Safety Data Sheet:
http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/ME/mercury.html
To illustrate the point, when someone tells me that mercury is non-poisonous, I always suggest that they Google the phrase "as mad as a hatter". The phrase is usually attributed to the time when workers used to impregnate fur and felt with mercury salts and mercury itself in poorly-ventilated workshops during the manufacture of hats. As Mercury is an accumulative poison, many workers succumbed to mercury poisoning with symptoms such as uncontrollable trembling, slurred speech. teeth loosening, depression, anxiety and personality changes.
The following Oxford University link outlines the hazardous nature of mercury and is derived from a typical supplier Material Safety Data Sheet:
http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/ME/mercury.html
As ChuckFickens rightly states, mercury fillings are indeed banned in many countries. Mercury is continuously released in the form of vapour from mercury fillings which was something not foreseen when mercury dental amalgams were first proposed. At the time, amalgams were considered to be non-poisonous on the basis that mercury is insoluble in water.
Dental amalgam is a compound made with around 50% elemental mercury combined with an alloy tin, silver, copper. Other elements such as palladium or iridium are sometimes included. A good general guide to amalgam can be found at the following link. It's an American Food and Drug Administration document and I have a great deal of respect for the FDA.
http://www.fda.gov/me...amalgam/ucm171094.htm
Dental amalgam is a compound made with around 50% elemental mercury combined with an alloy tin, silver, copper. Other elements such as palladium or iridium are sometimes included. A good general guide to amalgam can be found at the following link. It's an American Food and Drug Administration document and I have a great deal of respect for the FDA.
http://www.fda.gov/me...amalgam/ucm171094.htm
Yes, I know about the toxicity of mercury compounds and vapour and the hat-making process of old. I must have learnt about the phrase 'mad as a hatter' when I was in my teens. But this is the first time that I have heard that liquid mercury is poisonous if swallowed.
Some years ago someone tried to blackmail a supermarket by injecting mercury into its apples. While the supermarket, of course, moved heaven and earth to find the apples and remove them, several scientists at the time told people not to panic because swallowing a few drops of mercury would not harm them. It seems that they were wrong.
I have handled lots of mercury in my time and found no problem with fumes. As for dental fillings, I can't imagine how many millions of people (including me) have had such fillings for many years without ill-effect. But there we are, I bow to greater authority. Thanks.
Some years ago someone tried to blackmail a supermarket by injecting mercury into its apples. While the supermarket, of course, moved heaven and earth to find the apples and remove them, several scientists at the time told people not to panic because swallowing a few drops of mercury would not harm them. It seems that they were wrong.
I have handled lots of mercury in my time and found no problem with fumes. As for dental fillings, I can't imagine how many millions of people (including me) have had such fillings for many years without ill-effect. But there we are, I bow to greater authority. Thanks.
Although I'm not familiar with the case myself, the supermarket apple incident was undoubtedly a damage limitation exercise. It's not unknown for the public to be guided towards a certain conclusion by very carefully worded interviews with academics on TV and radio. Remember that it's not what they reveal at the interview that is of concern: what they don't reveal is much more important. They are not "wrong" - just economical with the truth.
The reason you found no problem with the fumes of mercury is simple. Mercury does not have fumes in the normal sense. Elemental mercury emits invisible, tasteless and odourless vapour. This is the reason why you've never detected anything amiss with your fillings. The vapour is absorbed by the body raising the background level of mercury in the body as a whole. The mechanism behind this is very complex.
On a personal level. I too have a mouthful of mercury fillings from a misspent youth. My wife, who is a very senior doctor often tells me I'm a nutter due to all the mercury in my mouth!
The reason you found no problem with the fumes of mercury is simple. Mercury does not have fumes in the normal sense. Elemental mercury emits invisible, tasteless and odourless vapour. This is the reason why you've never detected anything amiss with your fillings. The vapour is absorbed by the body raising the background level of mercury in the body as a whole. The mechanism behind this is very complex.
On a personal level. I too have a mouthful of mercury fillings from a misspent youth. My wife, who is a very senior doctor often tells me I'm a nutter due to all the mercury in my mouth!
Look for someone (locally, so they can collect) who deals in and repairs antique barometers and thermometers - they will probably buy it and use it responsibly.
A friend of mine built a reproduction barometer a couple of years ago - he found some Mercury on ebay!
It was very difficult to get the Mercury into the barometer tube - the bore was tiny - fortunately, he's an anaesthetist, and has access to very small bore catheters - we managed to construct a "funnel", starting off at about 1 inch diameter, and decreasing until it joined the catheter. I was amazed that such a thick liquid flowed through such a small tube.
A friend of mine built a reproduction barometer a couple of years ago - he found some Mercury on ebay!
It was very difficult to get the Mercury into the barometer tube - the bore was tiny - fortunately, he's an anaesthetist, and has access to very small bore catheters - we managed to construct a "funnel", starting off at about 1 inch diameter, and decreasing until it joined the catheter. I was amazed that such a thick liquid flowed through such a small tube.
prof - just noticed your comment above - Mercury doesn't have fumes.
Years ago (many years) when I was at school our physics teacher demonstrated a simple electric motor, based on a toothed wheel, tips of teeth dipping into a Mercury bath. When supplied with about 12 volts at 30 amps, the wheel span round, crackling, splashing and sparking every time a tooth left the mercury, and filling the room with thick reddish grey smoke!
Years ago (many years) when I was at school our physics teacher demonstrated a simple electric motor, based on a toothed wheel, tips of teeth dipping into a Mercury bath. When supplied with about 12 volts at 30 amps, the wheel span round, crackling, splashing and sparking every time a tooth left the mercury, and filling the room with thick reddish grey smoke!
Getting back to the question
I wouldn't try and sell it on line - give some of these people a call and see what they'll offer you
http://www.wastebook.org/precious.htm
I wouldn't try and sell it on line - give some of these people a call and see what they'll offer you
http://www.wastebook.org/precious.htm
Ah me, I remember the times in the science class at school when we'd be given mercury to play with, pushing the little blobs of it around on the desk. Doubtless we'd lick our fingers afterwards as well !! Changed days, indeed.
As to mercury dental fillings... I've read about folk who've had them removed and replaced with resin fillings, and how it's given them a new lease of live. A constant feeling of tiredness and listlessness disappeared as soon as the new fillings were in place. Worth considering, Prof?
As to mercury dental fillings... I've read about folk who've had them removed and replaced with resin fillings, and how it's given them a new lease of live. A constant feeling of tiredness and listlessness disappeared as soon as the new fillings were in place. Worth considering, Prof?
Vagrant, as I pointed out in my third post, mercury does release vapour but these cannot be termed fumes.
The device you saw at school was what was commonly called a mercury interrupter and instructions on their construction were often to be found in Popular Science magazine. The mercury bath often contained a layer of paraffin as well as the mercury I regret to say that Health & Safety regulations would not permit the motor to be demonstrated in school science labs nowadays even in a fume cupboard.
I think that donating the mercury to a scientific instrument repairer is a a great idea and you would know it was in safe hands. Alternatively, snake7 can follow jake's suggestion if he wants to make a few quid out of it and contact a metal recovery specialist.
The device you saw at school was what was commonly called a mercury interrupter and instructions on their construction were often to be found in Popular Science magazine. The mercury bath often contained a layer of paraffin as well as the mercury I regret to say that Health & Safety regulations would not permit the motor to be demonstrated in school science labs nowadays even in a fume cupboard.
I think that donating the mercury to a scientific instrument repairer is a a great idea and you would know it was in safe hands. Alternatively, snake7 can follow jake's suggestion if he wants to make a few quid out of it and contact a metal recovery specialist.
heathfield, it is indeed something I think we should all consider. Having studied the effects of mercury in the body, I can tell you that it's an insidious poison with side-effects that can take years to manifest themselves. Furthermore, the symptoms are often so vague that it's feasible that they can be put down to the patient having a virus etc. It's been shown that some people are more sensitive to mercury fillings than others. I think the fact that dentists as a cohort are known to have more measurable mercury in their bodies than any other profession says it all.
I've got about ten amalgam fillings in my mouth and if I had the time to get them replaced, I would do so tomorrow. The ironic thing is that I'm in the privileged position of being able to get them replaced for free in the university dental school, yet I can't find the time! Seriously though, each time a read a report of NICE approving the use of a costly drug on the NHS, I often think that allowing the use composite, glass or ceramic fillings should also be something that needs serious consideration. I accept that these materials are not as durable as amalgam, but the fact that they look better cosmetically and are non-toxic should prioritise their use over amalgam.
I've got about ten amalgam fillings in my mouth and if I had the time to get them replaced, I would do so tomorrow. The ironic thing is that I'm in the privileged position of being able to get them replaced for free in the university dental school, yet I can't find the time! Seriously though, each time a read a report of NICE approving the use of a costly drug on the NHS, I often think that allowing the use composite, glass or ceramic fillings should also be something that needs serious consideration. I accept that these materials are not as durable as amalgam, but the fact that they look better cosmetically and are non-toxic should prioritise their use over amalgam.
On a personal note, I've been admitted to hospital about three times over the past few years. When the consultant does his/her ward rounds with the team medical students, the consultant always mentions that I had Pinks Disease as a child. Invariably, the medical students look blank and are told to return the following day with an explanation of the disease. Pinks disease is actually a form of mercury poisoning which can sometimes lead to death. So how did I succumb to it? Well, when I was a child it was commonplace to use teething powders for babies. Many teething powders contained mercury salts that were ingested by the body.
So all in all, I've got a big axe to grind with Hydragyrum!
So all in all, I've got a big axe to grind with Hydragyrum!
At first I thought it might be a brand name but perhaps Hydra(d)gyrum can affect spelling (and/or grammar) abilities as well . . .
http://tellspell.com/...h/english/hydragyrum/
Pardon me but I could hardly be expected to pass up the rare opportunity to correct theprof!
http://tellspell.com/...h/english/hydragyrum/
Pardon me but I could hardly be expected to pass up the rare opportunity to correct theprof!
heathfield, it amazes me sometimes that I survived the disease. I was born when the use of these mercurous chloride powders was in decline so it couldn't have been that easy for my parents to get hold of the stuff. I lived with my grandparents for close on a year as my mother was ill following the birth of my sister and I discovered many a tin of the stuff in their sideboard drawers in later years. As I understand it, these teething powders were in use from around 1914.
Incidentally, mrsprof often drags me along to dinners with her esteemed colleagues. I'm well know in scientific circles and it's not unknown for the crowds to gather. At the point where I'm discussing my job at full flow, it's not unknown for mrsprof to sidle in, pretend to listen then nod sagely to her fellow physicans and ask if they were aware that I had mercury poisoning as a child. The silence has to be heard to be believed only broken by her laughing like a drain!
Incidentally, mrsprof often drags me along to dinners with her esteemed colleagues. I'm well know in scientific circles and it's not unknown for the crowds to gather. At the point where I'm discussing my job at full flow, it's not unknown for mrsprof to sidle in, pretend to listen then nod sagely to her fellow physicans and ask if they were aware that I had mercury poisoning as a child. The silence has to be heard to be believed only broken by her laughing like a drain!
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