• Question: what would happen if i got mercury from a thermometer in my mouth?

    Asked by lishyloshymoomoo to Aime, Akshat, Diana, Gemma, Judith on 16 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Judith McCann

      Judith McCann answered on 13 Jun 2011:

      I would recommend spitting it out… mercury tends to be poisonous in cumulative amounts, leading to damage to your brain and kidneys, so you could die, with enough of it. there may already be some mercury in your mouth if you have an amalgam filing in you teeth (that contains ~2% mercury)

      also, you’d have a broken thermometer

    • Photo: Gemma Sharp

      Gemma Sharp answered on 13 Jun 2011:

      hmm… bad things! I think the best thing to do would be to spit it out, wash out your mouth, and contact your doctor.

      As Judith says, it’s poisonous, but for that reason I think they stopped using mercury thermometers in schools… I may be wrong though!

      I think if in doubt, don’t put it in your mouth is wise advice in science (and most other things too)

    • Photo: Akshat Rathi

      Akshat Rathi answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Agree with Judith and Gemma on this. 🙂

    • Photo: Diana Samuel

      Diana Samuel answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      As the others have said, its poisonous and so ingesting it could potentially be fatal. Along with fillings, mercury can also enter your body by eating fish; nearly all fish contain a low level of mercury, but some accumulate it making it a problem – though women that are pregnant or are trying to conceive are most at risk, since the mercury can affect the development of the baby’s nervous system.

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