In one of my overzealous sterilization procedures, I accidentally shattered my thermometer spilling the dye into my waterchange bucket. This dye has now stained the plastic red and even with 30 minutes of vigorous scrubbing and even bleach treating the stain, it won't come out. Does anybody see any harm in using this bucket for aquarium purposes still or do I have to go out and buy a new bucket when I pick up a new thermometer.
Thermometer Dye Toxic?
- Thread starter rrkss
- Start date
It would be my guess that the "dye" inside your thermometer was mercury, as thats what is most commonly used, right? Mercury is a highly toxic substance. I could be wrong here but if I were you I would just buy a new bucket while you are at the store, buckets only cost a few $$ and I wouldn't risk it. Maybe someone else will know for sure. Good luck!
Ok here is the scoop on the thermometer.
If the liquid inside was silver then it is mercury. Mercury is highly toxic. Mercury however is not known for staining plastic. It just bubbles up.
The red stuff is a form of alcohol. It has red dye added to help you read the line. The alcohol, if cleaned well, should not be toxic since the alcohol will evaporate when exposed to air.
That just leaves the red dye. Without knowing what kind of dye it is I couldnt say whether or not it is safe.
So my suggestion.... be safe, get a new bucket.
If the liquid inside was silver then it is mercury. Mercury is highly toxic. Mercury however is not known for staining plastic. It just bubbles up.
The red stuff is a form of alcohol. It has red dye added to help you read the line. The alcohol, if cleaned well, should not be toxic since the alcohol will evaporate when exposed to air.
That just leaves the red dye. Without knowing what kind of dye it is I couldnt say whether or not it is safe.
So my suggestion.... be safe, get a new bucket.
Its not a mercury thermometer. Mercury thermometers in the United States have been banned for quite some time. Yes the dye in the thermometer was some sort of alchohol and it did evaporate quickly. Being hyperparanoid about contaminating my tanks, I bleach and heat treated the thermometer. The heat caused the glass to shatter when the liquid inside ran out of space to move.
:duh: :laugh:rrkss said:
God. I'm sorry. I'm laughing only because I can see myself totally doing the same thing. Sometimes the best of intentions can go so wrong. :thud:
patoloco
De seguro no sabes lo que dice aqu
Whan I wasa kid, I used to "acidentally" break the medical thermomethers my mom had just to play with the mercury drops. This liquid metal is really dangerous and poisunous. I have some dental fixes that were made years ago that used mercury as an ingredient. According to FDS and other groups, I am dead.
Mecury is the mysterious of all the planets.....Just kidding.
I think mercury is very interesting as it's almost constantly in a molten state, only when it's very cold does it harden to a true metal, one of the most deadliest poisions and one of the best conductors of power, you should be safe but I would find another bucket
I think mercury is very interesting as it's almost constantly in a molten state, only when it's very cold does it harden to a true metal, one of the most deadliest poisions and one of the best conductors of power, you should be safe but I would find another bucket
They have? Man, I didn't know that.
I remember once when I was a kid my dad came home with some mercury in his wallet. Poured it out and gave it to me and my brother.
I also have stories about lead paint chips and asbestos...