protocol for hazardous cracked display chemistry (mercury) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: algorithm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2022, 06:23:43 am
content: have some broken screens on things. didnt think much of it but noticed a warning of mercury on a laptops screen. so now Im wondering if theres any hope of salvaging something like that or if its unsafe and contaminated irreversibly. of course I dont know if they mean vapor or what, but any is bad I imagine.if I removed the broken display would the chassis or exterior be toxic to touch? would there even be a way to clean a surface that makes contact that could have leakage? since its an umpc I doubt it had mercury tubes. but not sure.thanks in advance.

author: oPossum
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2022, 06:37:11 am
content: The mercury is in the fluorescent tube used to backlight the LCD. If the tube isn't cracked there is no mercury to be exposed to.

author: Martin Miranda
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2022, 07:08:04 am
content: Quote from: oPossum on January 12, 2022, 06:37:11 am... and even if the in the really worst case (which rarely) the mercury vapor has escaped already. the amount of mercury vapor is also very small and negligible.

author: algorithm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2022, 11:05:18 pm
content: thank you both. that is a relief to know its not quite so extreme. I think I had cfl lightbulbs from the early energy days that leaked that vapor when they burnt out and I still live to tell the tale. thanks for the minds ease.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2022, 11:17:17 pm
content: Some CCFL tubes can contain enough mercury for a tiny amount of liquid mercury to be present when the tube is stone-cold. Its more common to find visible traces of liquid mercury in larger hot cathode fluorescent tubes.Here's the EPA advice for small domestic mercury spill cleanup:https://www.epa.gov/mercury/what-do-if-mercury-thermometer-breaksYou *ONLY* need to follow it if there are any visible traces of mercury present (look at all crevices and seams in the lid under a magnifier).Here's the EPA advice for broken fluorescent tube cleanup:https://www.epa.gov/cfl/cleaning-broken-cflI would advise working on a plastic sheet you can fold sides to middle, twice, then roll up and discard, in a well ventilated area.

author: Ground_Loop
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2022, 02:07:31 am
content: Study up a bit on mercury toxicity. You'll find it's really not the universal instant killer many make it out to be. I have a poly bottle with 8lbs of mercury sitting right next to me as I type this.

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2022, 02:36:21 am
content: Quote from: Ground_Loop on January 16, 2022, 02:07:31 amThat would make the fatal dose somewhere in the region of a 6 foot drop.

author: Ground_Loop
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2022, 03:28:49 am
content: http://Quote from: Cerebus on January 16, 2022, 02:36:21 amGood one.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2022, 04:04:01 am
content: You definitely don't want to heat up mercury and inhale the vapor but liquid mercury at room temperature is not nearly as bad as many make it out to be. Don't eat it, don't take a bath in it, try not to spread it around in the environment, but it's not going to make you drop dead if a tiny little CCFL tube breaks.