The thermometer is almost a must-have in the family medicine cabinet, once the mercury thermometer is broken, the mercury will evaporate into the air, and in extreme cases the concentration may reach 10,000 times the upper limit of safety, causing serious health effects. So, how to break the mercury thermometer? And what to do with the collected mercury? Protect yourself: Turn off all indoor heating devices and open windows for ventilation. Put on gloves before you start cleaning. Pick up the pieces: Carefully pick up sharp objects such as glass shards, place the pieces on a paper towel, fold the paper towel and place it in a bag and seal it well. For pieces that are too small to pick up you can use clear tape to adhere them. Three scientific methods to collect the scattered mercury beads: 1. Use a scraper or cardboard Clean up with gentle movements to avoid the mercury beads rolling everywhere. You can take a flashlight and hold it in a dark room at a low angle to the ground, so that it is easy to find those mercury beads that may be stuck to the ground or wall seams. Note: Mercury beads can roll far on the ground, so be sure to conduct a full search of the entire room. 2.Use a rubber straw Use a rubber straw to slowly and carefully suck up the mercury beads and squeeze them onto a wet paper towel. 3, use shaving cream to do a final sweep After you have removed the larger mercury beads, apply shaving cream to a small paint brush and gently “point” at the mercury-contaminated area to collect the mercury beads that are difficult to see with the naked eye. Warning! Never use a vacuum cleaner to clean up mercury. The vacuum of a vacuum cleaner will spread the mercury into the air, increasing the risk of exposure. Do not use a broom to clean the mercury, which will make the mercury into smaller droplets and will spread it. 4, packaged and sent to the relevant departments will be collected mercury beads, wet paper towels, paint brushes, tape, etc. all into a bag with a zipper and closed (do not forget the contaminated gloves, too, yo). Mark them and send them to the local health or fire department for proper disposal. Warning! Do not do this: Do not pour mercury down the drain. Mercury can accumulate in pipes and clog them, and if drained down the drain, can cause contamination of septic tanks or sewage treatment plants. Never wash clothes, etc. that have come into direct contact with mercury in the washing machine, as this can contaminate the machine and the water. “Direct contact” means that mercury beads are spilled directly on your clothes, such as breaking a mercury thermometer, and those beads fall directly on your clothes. If your shoes may be contaminated with mercury, don’t walk around, which could spread the mercury around. Clothing and shoes that have come into direct contact with mercury should not be used again, but should be packaged and labeled with properly collected mercury beads, etc. and sent to the local health or fire department for disposal. 5, keep ventilation, avoid contact When you have cleaned up, remember to keep well ventilated for at least 24 hours (i.e., open windows and fans); 24 hours for pets and children to avoid contact with the contaminated area. If you feel unwell, you should seek medical attention promptly.