5 ms·
While cadmium is toxic, organometallic compounds are much worse than what you have in your batteries. For example, you can play with mercury. You definitely S
by dietrichepp 11y ago
While cadmium is toxic, organometallic compounds are much worse than what you have in your batteries.
For example, you can play with mercury. You definitely SHOULD NOT, but it won't kill you. On the other hand, dimethyl mercury WILL kill you.
- userbinator 11y agoWhen talking about the toxicity of dimethylmercury, it is almost obligatory to mention https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Wetterhahn https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Wetterhahn exposure to only a few drops of the chemical absorbed through the gloves proved to be fatal after less than a year.
- goldenkey 11y ago"Her husband saw tears rolling down her face. I asked if she was in pain. The doctors said it didn't appear that her brain could even register pain."[5]
- x0x0 11y agowow. Apparently nobody thought to see if it goes through latex gloves, and it apparently does in seconds! Current safety protocol is now "highly resistant, flexible, plastic-laminate gloves [...]. For increased protection, such thin gloves can be worn under long-cuffed, heavy-duty outer gloves made of, for example, neoprene." Or just not using dimethylmercury.
- sliverstorm 11y agoPresumably the body more readily incorporates organometallics than elemental metal
- kansface 11y agoDo you know why?
- venomsnake 11y agoThe body is working with organic molecules more easily. You can literally drink mercury and chew iron and nothing bad will happen (you can, but you shouldn't) - you will pass it the next day. We humans cannot absorb non organic molecules easily. A starving person won't be able to eat charcoal. The mercury vapors are dangerous because you breathe them in which is easy. Organic compound with mercury can be absorbed trough the digestive tract - and mercury inside the blood stream is big problem.