#35: Mercury in Retrograde

OK, let’s talk about the greatly exaggerated risk of mercury exposure from thermometers. First, one-time exposure to mercury is actually not deadly like people think. I mean, it’s not good for you, but the real problem is repeated exposure over a long time, which allows it to build up in the body.

Secondly, a lot of thermometers don’t use mercury anymore, replacing it with alcohol; some countries have actually outlawed mercury thermometers except for in special and highly technical circumstances. So unless the story in this post happened long enough ago that the thermometer had mercury in it, and unless the American in question wanted to play with mercury on a daily basis for a few months, it was all probably fine, really, and this person can get off their high horse.