Key Points

Fire

• Does not easily burn under normal conditions
• Reacts with nitric acid and hot concentrated sulphuric acid. May react explosively with ammonia and violently with metals
• Emits toxic fumes when heated to decomposition
• In the event of a fire involving mercury, use fine water spray and liquid-tight protective clothing with breathing apparatus
• In the event of a fire involving liquid mercury, use gas tight protective suit with breathing apparatus with liquid mercury

Health

• Mercury poisoning can occur from ingestion, inhalation or dermal absorption
• Very toxic
• Short-term inhalation of mercury vapour causes cough, breathlessness and chest tightness within a few hours of exposure
• Short-term inhalation of elemental mercury globules may cause inflammation of the lungs, coughing blood and difficulty in breathing
• Stomach upset may occur within a few hours of ingestion of inorganic mercury
• Short-term exposure of the eyes to elemental mercury vapour eyes can cause inflammation and eyelid tremor
• Long-term inhalation of elemental mercury vapour may cause damage to the central nervous system, kidney damage and stomach upsets
• Ingestion of inorganic mercury compounds may cause stomach upsets, kidney failure and damage to the central nervous system
• There is no convincing evidence that mercury or mercury compounds can cause cancer in humans

Environment

• Dangerous for the environment
• Inform Environment Agency of substantial release incidents

 

All sections are available to download in PDF format below:

• Mercury - Full Document (PDF, 182 KB)
• General Information (PDF, 56 KB)
• Incident Management (PDF, 100 KB)
• Toxicological Overview (PDF, 58 KB)

Background