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Is mercury cause for alarm? 
Metallic mercury is a natural element with many applications. It is the only metal on earth that occurs in its liquid state at room temperature and in its pure form is often found in oral thermometers, barometers, sphygmomanometers (blood pressure testing devices), wall thermostats, some batteries, and even fluorescent light bulbs.
  
While this form of mercury is not easily absorbed through skin contact or digestion, its vapors can be harmful to your health. The liquid metal evaporates slowly at normal room temperatures and can cause nervous system disorders with prolonged exposure to the vapors. Young children are more sensitive to the effects of mercury because their central nervous system is still developing. Exposure to very high levels of Mercury vapor can cause brain, kidney, and lung damage. Vapor exposure can also harm developing a fetus.
Some common reversible effects of exposure range from sleep disturbances, tremors, and memory problems with lower level exposures, to nausea, vomiting, skin rashes and eye irritation with high concentration exposures. These effects are usually reversible once the exposure is terminated and the mercury has left your body.
Health risks are minimal at the time of the spill; it is the prolonged exposure caused by improper clean-up that creates the risk. If you have a mercury spill in your home or office, there are a number of steps your can take to reduce the risk of prolonged exposure.
Remove as much of the liquid mercury as possible by:
- Rolling it into a dust pan
- Rolling it onto a sheet of paper
- Picking it up with an eye dropper
Never use a broom or vacuum cleaner to remove the mercury.
Move the collected material into a plastic bag or airtight container.
- The paper, dust pan, or eye dropper should also be bagged for disposal.
Turn off central air conditioning systems.
Ventilate the area to the outside and close it off from the rest of the building.
- Use fans to speed the ventilation.
Contact your local health department and fire department.
Do not simply discard the product in the trash. Seek professional assistance.
Regarding Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs:
 
As a consumer, you should know that compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) do contain a small amount of mercury and is what makes the bulb more energy efficient. CFLs are safe to use and no mercury is released from the bulb when used properly. CFLs contain approximately five milligrams of mercury sealed in the glass tubing - the average oral thermometer holds about 100 milligrams.
When CFLs burn out, they should not be thrown directly into the trash. Either set them aside for recycling (Savannah currently does not provide for mercury recycling) or isolate the burned-out bulb in a tied plastic bag before disposal into the trash.
According to guidelines established by the Environment Protection Agency, you can safely clean up a mercury spill yourself (from broken CFLs and other items) if the mercury spill is less than one to two tablespoons and is limited to a small area.
If the mercury spill is larger, isolate the contaminated area and call your local environmental agency. The small amount of mercury in a fluorescent light bulb is not likely to cause a health problem, but it still should be cleaned up immediately.
Before beginning clean-up:
- Keep all people and animals away from the area of the spill.
- If possible, close all doors between the spill and the rest of the building.
- Turn off all ventilation systems (heating, a/c, fans) unless directly vented to the outdoors.
- Open windows in the area of the spill.
- Change into old clothes and shoes that can be thrown away if they come into contact with the mercury.
- Put on gloves, preferably rubber.
On a smooth surface...
- Carefully use a paper towel to wipe up all glass fragments and fine particles, and then seal in a plastic bag. Do not use a vacuum (which will make the mercury airborne) or a broom (which will break up the mercury droplets and increase exposure).
- Gather the mercury droplets using two pieces of thick paper or plastic (such as index cards). Use a flashlight held at a low angle to look for additional beads around the room.
- Either scoop up the beads with the paper or use an eye dropper to collect the beads. Put the mercury and all contaminated materials in a plastic bag and seal.
- Use duct tape to pick up smaller, hard-to-see droplets. Make sure you also dispose of the tape in a sealed plastic bag.
- Wipe the area with a damp paper towel and place in the sealed plastic bag.
- If available, recycle all mercury or throw the sealed plastic bag into your garbage.
On a rug or carpeting...
- Carefully pick up any broken glass and seal in a plastic bag.
- Use a sharp knife to cut away the entire contaminated area (including carpet/rug backing).
- Carefully fold the contaminated carpeting/rug so the mercury is trapped inside.
- Place in a large trash bag along with the knife and seal with tape.
- If available, recycle all mercury or throw the sealed plastic bag into the garbage.
When you are done…
- Throw away everything you think may have come into contact with the mercury.
- Wash your hands or take a shower if you think other parts of your body may have contacted mercury.
- Keep the area well ventilated for at least 24 hours after the clean-up and continue to keep animals and people away from the clean-up area during that time.
- Do not pour mercury down the drain. Also, do not wash mercury-contaminated clothing in a washing machine or wear clothes that were contaminated.
More information can be found through the following websites:
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Agency for Toxic Substance & Disease Registry
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