Pendants can be in various shapes, such as hearts, bottles, saber teeth and chili peppers. Once mercury spills, it breaks into tiny beads that can roll into cracks in floors or walls, or become trapped in carpet. Mercury vaporizes rapidly at room temperature, and can rapidly spread throughout the room. If spilled in or near heating ducts, the vapor can rapidly spread throughout the home or building. Without proper cleanup, people may be exposed to hazardous levels of mercury vapors.
Metallic mercury is highly toxic.
Young children, developing fetuses, and people with kidney disease or other health conditions are especially vulnerable. Brief contact with mercury can cause harm before symptoms arise. When mercury vapors are inhaled, mercury enters the bloodstream through the lungs. Inhalation of vapors may cause shortness of breath, chest pain and tightness, coughing, nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash, eye irritation and increase in blood pressure or heart rate. The central nervous system and kidneys are especially sensitive to the effects of mercury.