Date: June 1, 2010 2:45:13 PM EDT
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Mercury from thermometers
(again)
Alan,
Thank you for your common sense approach. Yes, I played with
mercury, even coated dimes with it in high school. Spent 34 years in
academia, some of which I was a Chemical Hygiene Officer. I wish that I had a dollar
for every mercury thermometer spill that I cleaned up over the
years. Yes, I am very
much alive at age 75.
Perhaps we have too many school science teachers who have
inadequate training!
Thanks again for your clear headed thoughts! Al Denio
===
Date: June 1, 2010 2:47:35 PM
EDT
Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L]
Mercury from thermometers (again)
So comes the specter of chronic
toxicity:
=85the
real danger comes from the chronic effects of the metal. If the school
administration allowed students to go home with the possibility of
mercury remaining on their bodies, the parents will hand those
administrators their own heads on a platter.
One
challenge with exposures to reproductive toxins or carcinogens is the
concept of threshold level.
How do you all deal with such exposures?
These
Responders are operating on a =93zero threshold=94 - or, if you
prefer, a binary criterion:
mercury / no mercury.
Simple, and therefore more reliably implemented. But as you all have
pointed out, prone to nonsensical outcomes. And the nonsense leads
into misdirected resources - not to mention a loss of credibility for
the chemists, safety folks, etc. At the very least, when
the public sees the same response for VX gas and a broken thermometer,
they don=92t see an intelligent response.
-Nick
===
Date: June 1, 2010 2:20:34
PM EDT
Subject: RE: Mercury from
thermometers (again)
Amen,
Brad.
Kay
Calhoun
===
Date: June 1, 2010 2:22:43
PM EDT
Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L]
Mercury from thermometers (again)
Thank you, Alan.
It=92s
hard enough getting people to take us seriously without our adding to
the problem by over-reacting and making mountains out of
molehills!
Amy
