On 14/08/2012 19:30, ARWadsworth wrote:
The Natural Philosopher wrote:
djornsk wrote:
Some 30 years ago I broke a manometer used for balancing carbs and
collected the mercury into a glass jar which has been living in the
shed. I recently became a bit bothered about the potential risk
should someone disturb it when I am not around, so decided to take
it to the local recycling centre after establishing that they would
accept it so long as it was inside a sealed container.
To my supply the attendant took the jar and instead of taking it to
a secure cabinet as I expected just threw it in the metal recycling
skip. I can understand that mercury is a metal but so is plutonium
and one wouldn't expect that to be thrown in with the scrap.
Perhaps the explaination lies in the fact that the risks are to a
degree mitigated by mechanical handling and adequate ventilation
from the time the scrap is deposited in the skips, or alternatively
the handling and storage precautions ISTR from my schooldays were
OTT. j


well its probably on account of mercury being pretty much a non event
safety wise.

Een safer than asbestos and probably a lot safer than having a fag.

Some 30 years ago I smashed a thermometer. My Dad put the mercury into a bag
and I took it into school the next day. The teacher made it a unplanned
science experiment as the whole class played with mercury with bare hands.

critcher said...................

when i was young and inquisitive i stole some mercury from school (1960)
and played around with it for weeks, even cooking it on a stove, i'm
still alive, but our local crematoria (Torfaen) is now on a go slow due
to having to fit filters to remove any toxins from the burning of tooth
fillings etc.
where on earth are we going with all this bull.

On 15/08/2012 20:22, critcher wrote:
On 14/08/2012 19:30, ARWadsworth wrote:
The Natural Philosopher wrote:
djornsk wrote:
Some 30 years ago I broke a manometer used for balancing carbs and
collected the mercury into a glass jar which has been living in the
shed. I recently became a bit bothered about the potential risk
should someone disturb it when I am not around, so decided to take
it to the local recycling centre after establishing that they would
accept it so long as it was inside a sealed container.
To my supply the attendant took the jar and instead of taking it to
a secure cabinet as I expected just threw it in the metal recycling
skip. I can understand that mercury is a metal but so is plutonium
and one wouldn't expect that to be thrown in with the scrap.
Perhaps the explaination lies in the fact that the risks are to a
degree mitigated by mechanical handling and adequate ventilation
from the time the scrap is deposited in the skips, or alternatively
the handling and storage precautions ISTR from my schooldays were
OTT. j


well its probably on account of mercury being pretty much a non event
safety wise.

Een safer than asbestos and probably a lot safer than having a fag.

Some 30 years ago I smashed a thermometer. My Dad put the mercury into
a bag
and I took it into school the next day. The teacher made it a unplanned
science experiment as the whole class played with mercury with bare
hands.

critcher said...................

when i was young and inquisitive i stole some mercury from school (1960)
and played around with it for weeks, even cooking it on a stove, i'm
still alive, but our local crematoria (Torfaen) is now on a go slow due
to having to fit filters to remove any toxins from the burning of tooth
fillings etc.
where on earth are we going with all this bull.


critcher said.........................
would probably be cheaper to remove the corpses teeth before burning.

In article ,
critcher writes:
On 15/08/2012 20:22, critcher wrote:
critcher said...................

when i was young and inquisitive i stole some mercury from school (1960)
and played around with it for weeks, even cooking it on a stove, i'm
still alive, but our local crematoria (Torfaen) is now on a go slow due
to having to fit filters to remove any toxins from the burning of tooth
fillings etc.
where on earth are we going with all this bull.


critcher said.........................
would probably be cheaper to remove the corpses teeth before burning.

Much of the mercury (on average, 3g per person at cremation) has
migrated (harmlessly) to other parts of the body by then, so removing
teeth/fillings doesn't work. Many other artificial parts (such as
pacemakers) are removed before cremation, to avoid releasing toxic
fumes.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]