Elemental mercury is a shiny, silver-gray metal that is a liquid at room temperature.
It can be found in thermometers, barometers, sphygmomanometers, dental amalgams, batteries, fluorescent lights and electrical switches. It also was commonly found in household latex paint prior to the early 1990s. In some cultures, elemental mercury is used in rituals, love potions and folk medicines. Some of these activities may include swallowing mercury capsules, sprinkling it in homes around baby cribs, sprinkling it in vehicles, burning it in candles, wearing it in amulets and directly rubbing it on the skin. Inhalation of elemental mercury vapor is the most common route of exposure.