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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Can The Spilled Mercury Affect The Baby Or Me?

hi, I am seven weeks pregnant. I broke a mercurial thermometer this morning when testing my basic body temp. The broken mercurial thermometer was in my mouth. Unfortunately, I had a small dental ulcer. I do not think I swallow any of them, as I washed my mouth with about 1 litre of water and had a liter of milk afterwards. I cleaned the spilled mercury by my bare hands, although I was very careful not to touch them. I did not ware masks during the time I made the cleaning, and the window was closed. I am worrying if this gonna do any bad to my baby. Thanks Doctor!
posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Twitter Wed, 16 Jul 2014 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 16 Jul 2014 Last reviewed on
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Emergency Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
One of the most common forms if elemental mercury poisoning is by thermometer breakage.
Is found in liquid form and easily vaporizes at room temperature and well absorbed through inhalation.
Its a lipid soluble compound, hence after inhalation from the lungs it is easily absorbed in to blood stream.but once it is absorbed in to blood it is usually converted in to inorganic form which gets excreted in feces.
Only prob is when it is in vapor form where it may cause
Pulmonary complications of wide range
CNS toxicity
Local paresthesias n stomatitis
Babies exposed in utero are most severely affected of wide range.
This is just in brief.
So as mercury is very dangerous when absorbed and moreover I don't know whats the status of urs regarding absorption. Please consult immediately.
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Can The Spilled Mercury Affect The Baby Or Me?

One of the most common forms if elemental mercury poisoning is by thermometer breakage. Is found in liquid form and easily vaporizes at room temperature and well absorbed through inhalation. Its a lipid soluble compound, hence after inhalation from the lungs it is easily absorbed in to blood stream.but once it is absorbed in to blood it is usually converted in to inorganic form which gets excreted in feces. Only prob is when it is in vapor form where it may cause Pulmonary complications of wide range CNS toxicity Local paresthesias n stomatitis Babies exposed in utero are most severely affected of wide range. This is just in brief. So as mercury is very dangerous when absorbed and moreover I don t know whats the status of urs regarding absorption. Please consult immediately.