mercury in light bulbs?

[forzaa]

A while back like 6 months or so ago, a few tube light bulbs broke. My question is if i saw them after they broke, do i have mercury posioning and should i be worried because i think that my shoes "got it" and that when i walk by certain places i feel it is there and infecting me. will i die or get harmed. serious answers please, im freaking out.

 

[skibm80]

No you're fine. Back in the early 60's and 70's children would play with large quantities of mercury in their hands and they are all still fine to this day. mercury can only be harmful to you if you are vulnerable (very young, very old, etc...)

 

[jzinger34]

NO! The amount of mercury in a light bulb is so small you will not be harmed. Unless you are eating them on a daily basis!

 

[Alice RN]

Playing with mercury isn't the greatest thing and it's not as safe as the other person stated. However it's not exactly a poisonous snake either. The way mercury becomes dangerous is to aerosolize it and then breath it in.

One way mercury can get into the air is by spilling it on the carpet and then using a vacuum cleaner on that carpet. The heat, suction and beater bars of the vacuum can cause the mercury to get up into the air where you then breath it into the lungs.

Breath enough mercury and it affects the brain and thinking abilities. Remember the "Mad Hatter" from Alice in Wonderland? They used to use mercury to help process beaver pelts to make felt. Which was then used to make hats. Breathing that mercury made the hat maker crazy, hence the term, "Mad as a Hatter"