Mercury and school

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Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Originally Posted By: andyd
We used to play with mercury in HS chemistry lab


We got to play with sodium and water for crying out loud.


Me too. Try lithium, bigger bang! My buddy who does his own maple sugaring cannot find a mercury candy themometer to save his life. He hates the newer ones, not as accurate. MORONS!
 
There are enough dumb people as it is. Mercury is a toxin, benzene and other things are too. The school specifically stated that some things weren't allowed. Just because people played with mercury or bathed in benzene doesn't mean that they aren't known to be hazardous. And frankly, I don't want to pay the healthcare bills for those who think it is benign. If people are willing to silently go die in the woods once neural degradation or cancer sets in, then go be my guest.

Why did the school do it? Because some over zealous parent would likely make a huge stink if they found out and nothing was done. A sad state but we have ourselves to blame for allowing the "Lawyers' Monopoly" to screw us all.

The right move would have been to confescate it and secure it until an adult retrieved it, and left it at that. No need for some giant scare other than to proved to the lawsuit happy patents that all is taken care of.

But for one to ask where is the common sense of the school, what about of the kid? And the parenting?
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Just because people played with mercury or bathed in benzene doesn't mean that they aren't known to be hazardous.


I thought that was the point.
confused2.gif
Being alive is hazardous.

Calling the hazmat unit in because a kid brought a mercury thermometer to school is insane. Teaching the kid that mercury is hazardous if a thermometer breaks doesn't require a fire truck. Maybe in the land of idiocracy.
 
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Just because people played with mercury or bathed in benzene doesn't mean that they aren't known to be hazardous.


I thought that was the point.
confused2.gif
Being alive is hazardous.

Calling the hazmat unit in because a kid brought a mercury thermometer to school is insane. Teaching the kid that mercury is hazardous if a thermometer breaks doesn't require a fire truck. Maybe in the land of idiocracy.


Ahhh laaiik muunneh
grin.gif


idiocracy-21.jpg
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
There are enough dumb people as it is. Mercury is a toxin, benzene and other things are too. The school specifically stated that some things weren't allowed. Just because people played with mercury or bathed in benzene doesn't mean that they aren't known to be hazardous. And frankly, I don't want to pay the healthcare bills for those who think it is benign. If people are willing to silently go die in the woods once neural degradation or cancer sets in, then go be my guest.

Why did the school do it? Because some over zealous parent would likely make a huge stink if they found out and nothing was done. A sad state but we have ourselves to blame for allowing the "Lawyers' Monopoly" to screw us all.

The right move would have been to confescate it and secure it until an adult retrieved it, and left it at that. No need for some giant scare other than to proved to the lawsuit happy patents that all is taken care of.

But for one to ask where is the common sense of the school, what about of the kid? And the parenting?


So...you then support removing all thermostats, florescent lights, button batteries, and tuna sandwiches from the school? Because ALL of those contain mercury!
 
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle

So...you then support removing all thermostats, florescent lights, button batteries, and tuna sandwiches from the school? Because ALL of those contain mercury!


Are you implying that there is ZERO difference from a highly contained and specifically implemented item, versus some fragile item roling around in a kid's backpack? What is the concentration and dosing for each of those? For example, the tuna sandiwch is a dosing and concentration that is low enough to be considered benign through a lot of study. Swallowing tuna fish snt the same as mercury on the fingers getting ingested. That really isnt tough to comprehend.

Talk about the initial comment of common sense. There is a risk/reward and probability aspect to all that stuff. It is how things are designed, implemented and decisions are made.
 
Depending on the age of the building they should have checked for Asbestos in ceiling tiles, pipe wraps, plaster, flooring, etc., while they were at it. LOL
 
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Just because people played with mercury or bathed in benzene doesn't mean that they aren't known to be hazardous.


I thought that was the point.
confused2.gif
Being alive is hazardous.

Calling the hazmat unit in because a kid brought a mercury thermometer to school is insane. Teaching the kid that mercury is hazardous if a thermometer breaks doesn't require a fire truck. Maybe in the land of idiocracy.


No kidding. Did you read and comprehend what I stated?

The point there is for those who swoon in the "old days" when people swam in benzene and played with mercury. Nothing happened? Says who? There has been sufficient toxicology and other studies on this stuff to indicate that it isnt the best stuff to be messing with. Just because some people played with mercury balls in their youth isnt a justification for still doing so.

Living is hazardous, many take things way too far the wrong way, and I too stated that the situation was way overblown; of course it is easy to see why when you look at how many parents behave these days.
 
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Depending on the age of the building they should have checked for Asbestos in ceiling tiles, pipe wraps, plaster, flooring, etc., while they were at it. LOL


At least in all the schools around us, they did that job back around 1988. I remember having to go to another school for about two weeks at the start of one of the school years because they were completing full strip and removal of all asbestos containing items.

Is that too overblown? For sure. I can see ceiling or wall tiles that can break and release (a tiny amount) fibers into a space where people may be. But something like pipe insulation in a basement?
 
They sure wouldn't have like me and my buddies in high school with our pint bottle of mercury! That thing weighed a ton for its size and we were always playing with it.

How did we survive?
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Depending on the age of the building they should have checked for Asbestos in ceiling tiles, pipe wraps, plaster, flooring, etc., while they were at it. LOL


At least in all the schools around us, they did that job back around 1988. I remember having to go to another school for about two weeks at the start of one of the school years because they were completing full strip and removal of all asbestos containing items.

Is that too overblown? For sure. I can see ceiling or wall tiles that can break and release (a tiny amount) fibers into a space where people may be. But something like pipe insulation in a basement?



I went to school long before before Asbestos or any of this stuff was a considered a major issue. I think its a good idea to safely remove it, however I also think it is way overblown many times. The Mercury story, wow!
 
When I went to school, we had to walk 50 miles one way, fight off bears and we ate cat food for lunch.
 
Originally Posted By: buster
When I went to school, we had to walk 50 miles one way, fight off bears and we ate cat food for lunch.

I think they still serve cat food!
 
Originally Posted By: buster
When I went to school, we had to walk 50 miles one way, fight off bears and we ate cat food for lunch.


I had to walk 50 miles up hill both ways and fight off the T-Rex.
 
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Depending on the age of the building they should have checked for Asbestos in ceiling tiles, pipe wraps, plaster, flooring, etc., while they were at it. LOL


At least in all the schools around us, they did that job back around 1988. I remember having to go to another school for about two weeks at the start of one of the school years because they were completing full strip and removal of all asbestos containing items.

Is that too overblown? For sure. I can see ceiling or wall tiles that can break and release (a tiny amount) fibers into a space where people may be. But something like pipe insulation in a basement?



I went to school long before before Asbestos or any of this stuff was a considered a major issue. I think its a good idea to safely remove it, however I also think it is way overblown many times. The Mercury story, wow!


One of the few times I watch tv is if I'm home sick. This is once every five years or so. Every time, without fail during daytime tv, there are commercials for law firms looking to sue someone for asbestos induced mesothelioma.

That's why we have these overblown responses.

So it goes back to my comment about the "Lawyers' Monopoly".

But one further, individuals with poor financial skills that live in debt and have nothing in their retirement years drive it too, as I'm sure they're looking for anyone to sue to get "payday". Ditto for this and the schools. Parents are looking for anyone to sue for their dumb kids underperforming. If they can sue the school, blame stuff like asbestos or mercury, get a chunk of change for it, I don't doubt they would.
 
You mean 1-800 mesolaw? Then lead from paint, I'm sure someone will find a way to sue for attic insulation, maybe carpet fibers, bullies at school, I can go on and on, where does it end?
 
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