Mercury, also known as quicksilver, is the only metal that is in liquid form at normal conditions. It’s also a very toxic substance. It has been found to adversely affect the human brain, lungs, and kidney. Infants and children exposed to mercury may suffer from abnormal brain and nervous system developments.   Even fetuses or unborn infants still in the placenta are at high risk when exposed to mercury. This is because mercury can cross the placenta, obtaining fetal concentrations of mercury. These concentrations are 30 times greater than the amount that the mother is exposed to.

Unfortunately, mercury can find its way to the human body through ingestion of contaminated food like fish. It is also present in many common household products. As a result, mercury has been banned in several countries, including a lot of localities in the US. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also created a list of household items that contain mercury and therefore should not be present in any household. Among these are:

• Antiques (mirrors, clock pendulums)
• Antiseptics
• Appliances (electronic or gas-fired)
• Athletic shoes
• Barometers
• Batteries
• Blood pressure gauges
• Clothes iron
• Clothing irons
• Household lamps
• Jewelry
• Microwave ovens
• Old chemistry sets and toys
• Paints
• Pesticides
• Pesticides
• Shoes
• Sporting equipment
• Television sets
• Thermometers
• Thermostats / household switches

(For a complete list of products containing mercury, head on to EPA’s site: http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/tsd/mercury/con-prod.htm#t1c19)

Any of these products, if really required, should be managed correctly, used safely, and stored very well to avoid mercury spillage. And when no longer needed or functioning, then they must be disposed of properly. They must be surrendered to a hazardous waste facility or collected by toxic waste collectors in the area to ensure that they’re handled properly.