Its just a standard thermometer. It broke inside a circular container, so I am not sure if liquid leaked out of the container. Is it possible for mercury to spill out of the thermometer through the pore, and onto my backpack. How should I throw it away? What dangers are associated with broken thermometers?
I Just Found A Broken Thermometer In My Backpack, What Should I Do? What Dangers Are Involved?
December 6th, 2009 
Luggage Boy 
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Unless the thermometer was very old, it was probably filled with alcohol. Easy way to tell is the color of the liquid. Silver means it was probably Mercury, but red means it was just alcohol and no harm done. Just make sure there’s no glass shards inside your backpack and that it’s dry before you put your books back into it.
Make sure your will is in order…..you’ll be dead by morning.
As long as it’s not filled with mercury, you’re fine. If it is….dispose CAREFULLY, and wash everythnng in HOT HOT water or throw away. I’d get rid of the backpack too.
Meurcury has ben known to cause “some” individuals severe brain damage .It is toxic to a certain degree.But I would take the mercury out and play with with it “.It’s so cool !!! ” Like Arnold in
the Terminator…..Why waste a broken thermometer?
Awsome
Most thermometers are not made of mercury any more…
Most thermometers today contain alcohol instead of mercury.
nothing to worred about. u can first try to identify which kind of thermometer is this? And start doing practicals .
Handle the pieces with gloves that will resist being cut by the glass. If it is a mercury type thermometer, and the cap is still on the tube, take it to a metal recycler that handles mercury. You won’t get any money for it, but they either will take if from you, or can tell you who best to take it to. Mercury is a dense liquid metal. It doesn’t compress, so if there is a hole and that hole is smaller than any ball of mercury, it will remain in the tube. If not, it’s to late to worry about it. Wash the backpack in COLD water. Heat is NOT a good thing with mercury, and let the washer run it’s cycle. If there was any mercury in the pack, it will be long gone when the pack comes out of the washer. There is no need to get rid of the pack. The only time mercury is going to be a hazard to you is if you heat it in a fire and it becomes a vapor, or if it is ingested. Getting mercury on you is no big deal, so long as there is no way for it to enter your body. I dealt with mercury for several years as an Instrument Mechanic at a large chemical plant. I have the knowledge and experience to know how to deal with this metal.
Assuming it was a mercury thermometer, there is little danger. You should be able to collect the droplets into a small bottle for disposal. Don’t let it contact any gold jewelry.
Check with the local garbage facility for disposal instructions. Ask what the RQ is, I’m sure you won’t have it.
If thermometer was not mercury filled, no worries.
What kind ???????????? Makes a diff.