Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Yea. And unlike cobalt 60, mercury doesn't decay. Hard to get that stuff out of your system.


Fortunately, it's also hard to get that stuff into your system.

  Elemental mercury is usually quite harmless if touched or swallowed.
  It is so thick and slippery that it usually falls off your
  skin or out of your stomach without being absorbed.¹
¹ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002476.htm


Not all mercury is pure, though. Organic mercury compounds exist which behave similarly to elemental mercury but they have a greater health risk associated with them.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: