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Parentpedia
Mercury Thermometers
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What Experts Say
Most stories about mercury today have headlines that shout about limiting seafood on your weekly menu. But parents should also be wary of glass thermometers that contain this silvery liquid. Should the glass casing on a mercury thermometer break, your child could be exposed to mercury vapors that are toxic, even in the short run, and difficult to remove. (The broken glass could also cut or otherwise injure a child.)
Exposure to mercury can damage the kidneys, skin, and lungs. It also affects the central nervous system, causing learning disabilities, blindness, retardation, and other damage.
Though mercury thermometers had been widely relied upon for...
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My pediatrician wants to use mercury thermometers, but I'm not comfortable with that - waht should i do?
Believe it or not, some pediatricians still suggest mercury thermometers for their patients. Some feel mercury thermometers are more accurate than the digital brands. Although that may be the case, mercury thermometers still pose a greater risk if they break than digital thermometers. Don't be afraid to disagree with your pediatrician on this matter. If it is a safety concern for you, just let your doctor know you prefer to use a digital thermometer and that you understand there might be a margin of error when taking your babies temperature. If you choose to use a mercury thermometer for a rectal temperature, try to keep your infant as still as possible, the last thing you want is a broken thermometer in a child's rectum.
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