Proficient Mercury Spillage Cleaning

Our experts have years of experience in the mercury spillage cleaning field.

Our friendly agents aim to provide an excellent cleaning service and make your property feel like a safe area again. Any questions or concerns you may have can be answered by our friendly support team or by the technicians completing the job on-site. They will wear the appropriate PPE and must ensure the air is safe to breathe again before they leave with an air purity test.

We use state-of-the-art tools and industrial-grade solutions that efficiently contain, clean, and decontaminate the area. By assessing the size and severity of the spill, our cleaners will expertly remove the threat present.

What objects contain mercury?

The use of mercury is currently widely restricted due to the toxicity of its properties. Even though it is slowly declining from mining and electrical production, we still rely on it in modern technology. Some of these objects could be in your household or workplace, and we recommend that you dispose of them to replace them with a safer alternative.

Some objects that still contain mercury in wider production are:

• Fluorescent lightbulbs
• Batteries
• Thermometers
• Barometers
• Backlights
• Electrical switches
• Electrical relays

As recent as 2022, traces of mercury were discovered in cosmetics like skin whitening creams. Mercury blocks melanin production in the skin, therefore preventing the colour given to the skin. Some dentists may still use mercury dental amalgams whilst phasing out the use, presenting a small risk to patients and nurses.

How is the planet reducing mercury usage?

In the mid to late 2000s, we saw stricter regulations in the UK come into force regarding the use of mercury in measuring devices. However, the continued release of mercury through fish consumption, human activity, and the toxic effects posed to humans brought a new global treaty into force.

Governments agreed to create the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2013, pledging to reduce the use of mercury in industrial productions and address mercury releases into the environment. It came into force in 2017, and as of 2022, there is a current pledge to phase out products by 2025. These products are:

• Compact fluorescent lamps
• Cold cathode and external electrode fluorescent lamps
• Strain gauges
• Electrical measuring devices
• Mercury vacuum pumps
• Wheel weights and tyre balances
• Photographic film and paper
• Satellite and spacecraft propellant

We cover all areas in the Thanet District of Kent, including:

• Birchington-on-Sea
• Broadstairs
• Cliffsend
• Manston
• Minster-in-Thanet
• Monkton
• Ramsgate
• Sarre
• Westgate-on-Sea

Why do mercury exposures happen?

The most common encounter with mercury is the consumption of fish, shellfish, and poultry. These are usually low levels of mercury exposure and pose no harm to us, but if consumed in large quantities, they can start to harm the body.

However, other exposures happen through human incidents. Mercury may be stored incorrectly at a facility, causing a large spill, and exposing many workers to the element. It can also occur if people do not dispose of their mercury products properly and are not under their local council's hazard waste disposal guidelines.

There is also a risk that mercury products made of fragile materials like glass can break, causing the mercury to spill into the area. Even though this is often a low-level exposure, it could still cause illness to anyone exposed and harm young children’s development.

Give our support team a call

Call us today at 0208 066 0360 to learn more about our full range of cleaning services for customers in Margate. Alternatively, you can email us at enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk to find out what other chemical spill services we offer.