MERCURY

Properties :
Mercury is a heavy metal (13,6 Kg/l.), liquid at ambient temperature.

It has various useful properties :

• Regular curve of dilatation, without gluing in the tube wall, which makes it a precise indicator of temperature and pressure,
  
• Good electrical conductivity,
  
• Good chemical stability.

Mercury is capable of forming alloys with various metals.
Mercury is a metal with silver color, which is used since ancient time in various applications. Chinese used it as immortality elixir, while Hindi's advised it as an aphrodisiac. In North America, some Caribbean and Hispanics communities still use it for attractive, medicinal and religious purposes.

Mercury causes many problems :
- When spilled, it spits into multiple droplets, difficult to recover,
- Mercury has a very high vapor tension. Placed close to a warm source or shaken mechanically, it will evaporate,
- Mercury vapors have no color or odor and are non-irritating, but very toxic.

Mercury toxicity :
Mercury is easily absorbed by breath. In blood circulation, mercury metal diffuses through the membranes and into all organs. It cause insomnia, shivering, …
Most mercury is eliminated naturally by the body.
The half-biological life of mercury is around two month and for the brain, around 21 days. But the remaining fraction takes longer to eliminate.

A major contaminant to the Environment :
Mercury sent to the sewer will contaminate waters and rivers. After incineration of the waste, it will be diffuse in the air. With dumping it will pollute the water table.
Metallic mercury can be transformed by bacteria present in the bottom of lakes, rivers and water treatment installations as organic, more toxic : methylmercury.
Fish consumption is the principal source of mercury contamination.

There is an obligation to recycle it !

Duclos Environnement
86 avenue du 8 mai 1945 - 13240 Septemes les Vallons
phone : 04.91.96.30.00 - fax : 04.91.96.25.27 - e-mail : mail@duclos-sa.com
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