Journal of Nippon Medical School: Vol.67 No.5 page.375

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ArticleTitle A Study of Metallic Mercury Polluting a Room After Being Spilled from a Sphygmomanometer

AuthorList Huijuan Ye, Masao Katsumata and Masayasu Minami

Affiliation Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Nippon Medical School

Language JA

Volume 67

Issue 5

Year 2000

Page 375-379

Received April 26, 2000

Accepted June 1, 2000

Keywords metallic mercury, sphygmomanometer, hot carpet

Abstract Mercury spilled from a mercurial sphygmomanometer on a hot carpet can vaporize and pollute the environment. We observed the vaporization of mercury in model experiments. Mercury (0.15g) was heated on a hot carpet and the near-by air was sampled with a midget impinger. The evaporated mercury levels were 5.0, 6.3, 8.1 and 10.0mg/m³ at 20, 40, 60 and 80 minutes, respectively at a height of 30cm from carpet. The result indicated that even if a small quantity of mercury remained on the hot carpet, it could evaporate and pollute the indoor air. Little is known about the influence on human health of low mercury exposure, especially on children. In order not to pollute the air, we need to pay attention to mercury.

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ArticleTitle	A Study of Metallic Mercury Polluting a Room After Being Spilled from a Sphygmomanometer
AuthorList	Huijuan Ye, Masao Katsumata and Masayasu Minami
Affiliation	Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Nippon Medical School
Language	JA
Volume	67
Issue	5
Year	2000
Page	375-379
Received	April 26, 2000
Accepted	June 1, 2000
Keywords	metallic mercury, sphygmomanometer, hot carpet
Abstract	Mercury spilled from a mercurial sphygmomanometer on a hot carpet can vaporize and pollute the environment. We observed the vaporization of mercury in model experiments. Mercury (0.15g) was heated on a hot carpet and the near-by air was sampled with a midget impinger. The evaporated mercury levels were 5.0, 6.3, 8.1 and 10.0mg/m³ at 20, 40, 60 and 80 minutes, respectively at a height of 30cm from carpet. The result indicated that even if a small quantity of mercury remained on the hot carpet, it could evaporate and pollute the indoor air. Little is known about the influence on human health of low mercury exposure, especially on children. In order not to pollute the air, we need to pay attention to mercury.
Correspondence to