Yes mercury is toxic however as long as a mercury thermometer remains unbroken it will be safe to handle.  We have a number of these in our collection and although we mark their storage boxes with warning signs they don't require any special handling unless the sealed unit breaks.

In the event of a spillage the amount of mercury involved in a domestic scale themometer means that there is still not a high risk to anyone involved. However the spill should be cleaned up properly (see http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1194947391168 for advice).  You might want to purchase a mercury spill kit, particularly if you have a number or mercury containing items in your collection (e.g. http://www.mercurysafety.com/mercury-spillage-kit/).   The waste should be disposed of via your local hazardous waste facility.


Trevor Reynolds
Collections Registrar, English Heritage
tel: +44 (0) 1904 601905.  37 Tanner Row, York, YO1 6WP

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kathie Gow
Sent: 25 June 2013 04:58
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: mercury thermometer in collection?

Hi listers. We recently received a donation of a giveaway from a local business. It's a 5x9 mirror showing a little Scotty dog next to a fire hydrant, and it says "Shall I?" Because it's a business that involved 2 prominent families, and it's a funny little customer premium, we'd like to keep it to help tell the story of the business, but the fire hydrant has a thermometer inside. I did a little searching online and the general rule sounds like get rid of mercury thermometers as a hazardous material. The thermometer is quite small, though -- 2 inches high and less than 1/4 inch wide on the bulb. Any ideas regarding display or storage that would make this responsible to keep?

Thanks!

--Kathie


Kathie Gow

Oral History Producer
http://www.wordspicturesstories.com

Curator, Hatfield Historical Museum
http://hatfieldhistory.weebly.com

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