Patient's question:
Today, while I was throwing away the thermometer, it hit my leg and broke. It scraped a small wound on my leg, and the mercury tip disappeared. I saw small mercury beads on the wound, and there were also some on my leg and arm. Could I be poisoned?Doctor's answer:
Hello, the specific gravity of mercury is very high, so it forms small spherical droplets and will not enter the wound. In this case, it is necessary to use physiological saline for rinsing and iodine for disinfection promptly. Generally, this situation does not lead to mercury poisoning. After a thermometer breaks, it should be cleaned immediately, and the room should be ventilated to promote the removal of mercury vapor.