Elemental mercury releases are often attributed to antiques. Don't let this spoil your holiday season.
Antique pendulum wall clock, Delaware County, New York. In 2006, as an antique store employee was cleaning, he placed an antique pendulum wall clock on the floor, spilling approximately 150 mL of mercury. The employee then moved the pendulum to a bucket and tried to vacuum the spill with a household vacuum cleaner. He dialed 911, and emergency responders were dispatched. That employee and another employee evacuated the store as the fire department, a hazardous materials (HazMat) team, and the state environmental agency responded.
The 
HazMat team removed carpeting and collected all visible mercury beads. The carpeting and vacuum cleaner were discarded as hazardous waste. Air measurements taken the next day revealed background levels of mercury at floor level in the area that had been cleaned. Air measurements throughout the room indicated mercury in the floorboards beneath a radiator. Plastic was hung over the doorway to contain the room air until a second cleanup was conducted. The floor was mopped with a thiosulfate solution. The cleanup contractor took air samples to confirm that the mercury cleanup was complete.
Antique pendulum clock, Southhold, New York. In 2006, a home was contaminated with approximately 500 mL of mercury when an antique pendulum clock fell and broke on the carpeted floor in the living room. The tenant called the state spill hotline and was referred to the county 
health department. The county health department and a cleanup contractor responded. The resident evacuated until the cleanup was completed and confirmed by environmental sampling.
Antique clock, New York City, New York. In 2005, 30--330 mL of mercury spilled from a 15-inch column in an antique clock in an antiques store. The fire department and city environmental agency responded. As a precaution, four workers were transported to a medical facility for evaluation. The area was cordoned off while a cleanup contractor removed the spilled mercury and conducted air sampling to verify that the cleanup was complete.
Antique barometer, Great Neck, New York. In 2003, approximately 35 mL of mercury spilled from a 
newly purchased antique barometer while it was being transported in the trunk of a car. As the barometer was being carried into the buyer's home, some of the spilled mercury was tracked inside. The buyer contacted the local health department for cleanup guidance and then hired a cleanup contractor to remediate the spill. The local health department took air measurements to determine whether cleanup was complete in both the house and car. Although mercury cleanup in the house was complete, air measurements in the car trunk indicated residual mercury. The car was successfully remediated only after the trunk carpeting was discarded.
Antique mirror, Ryebrook, New York. In 2001, approximately 30 mL of mercury leaked from the back of an antique mirror onto the carpet in a home. The resident vacuumed the spilled mercury, contaminating the vacuum cleaner and likely increasing the indoor air levels of mercury. The resident contacted the local health department, which responded. The mirror and vacuum both were bagged for disposal as hazardous waste, and the spill was cleaned up within 1.5 hours of discovery. Air sampling confirmed cleanup.
Antique lamp, Syracuse, New York. In 2000, approximately 35 mL of 
mercury spilled onto a roadway as an antique lamp was being loaded into a vehicle. The mercury had been used as a weight in the lamp's base. The spill was reported to the local fire department and cleaned up by a HazMat team. Because this spill occurred outdoors and was cleaned up quickly, the risk for inhalation exposure was minimal.
Reported by: RE Wilburn, MPH, JK Ehrlich, MPH, WL Welles, PhD, New York State Dept of Health. DK Horton, MSPH, M Orr, MS, V Kapil, DO, Div of Health Studies, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. For source document click here.
The delightful antiques peppering this page can be found at auction on New Years Day in Zelienople PA at J.S. Dill Auctions, Inc They are one of Southwestern Pennsylvania's finest auction houses.
With any antique, since you do not know where it's naughty past has taken it, keep your children safe!
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