How to Test for High Levels of Mercury Vapor

Mercury is a metal element that can exist in liquid form, evaporating slowly at room temperature. Liquid mercury emits toxic, invisible, odorless vapors. Individuals may be exposed to mercury vapors in both the home and workplace. Materials that can emit mercury vapors include exterior latex paints, dental fillings, thermometers, barometers, pigment, fungicide, insecticide and dry cell batteries.



Elevated mercury in blood may indicate recent exposure to elemental mercury vapor; blood tests can be carried out by medical practitioners. Personal mercury test kits are also available for individuals wanting to test their own mercury levels. Equipment such as hand-held mercury vapor analyzers can assess nanograms of mercury vapors present per cubic meter in any environment.

Things You'll Need

• Personal mercury test kit
• Hand-held mercury vapor analyzer

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Instructions

• 1

  Purchase a personal home mercury test kit from health-focused websites such Mercury Instrument USA, or ask your local drug store if it sells nonprescription kits over the counter. Follow, to the letter, the detailed instructions included in the DIY test kits. Mix solutions as advised and allow to sit for the recommended period of time. Compare the final color of the solution to the chart provided to ascertain the concentration of mercury in parts per million (PPM).

• 2

  Have a blood test conducted by a professional lab. Avoid eating fish for at least 72 hours before taking a blood test to assess exposure to mercury vapors. Avoid chewing gum and grinding your teeth if you have amalgam fillings, as both can influence the mercury levels in blood. It's possible to identify exposure to all three types of mercury (elemental, inorganic and organic) by testing the blood. If levels are high, your medical practitioner may follow up with a fecal metals test.

• 3

  Contact a professional to analyze the air in your home or office with a commercial vapor analyzer. Commercial model vapor analyzers can detect very low levels of contamination -- to parts per trillion.