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In an emergency, call:
Iowa Poison Control Center
(800) 222-1222
Iowa DNR, Emergency Response (for spills)
(515) 281-8694
In case of animal poisoning, call your local veterinarian
Spills (including mercury):
If the spill meets any of the following guidelines it must be reported to
the Department of Natural Resources Emergency Response Unit at (515) 281-8694.
- The hazardous substance has the potential to leave the property by run-off,
sewers, tile lines, culverts, drains, utility lines or some other conduit.
- The hazardous substance has the potential to reach a water of the state - either surface
water or groundwater.
- The hazardous substance can be detected in the air at the boundaries of the facility
property by the senses (sight and smell) or by monitoring equipment. There is a potential
threat to the public health and safety.
- Local officials respond to the incident.
- The release exceeds a Federal Reportable Quantity (RQ).
For smaller household spills, use common sense:
- Keep the area well ventilated; open windows or doors.
- Keep children and pets away from the area.
- Wear protective clothing and gloves.
- Contain and cover the spill with absorbent material (cat litter, clay, or sand).
- Sweep and scoop material into a container with a lid or double plastic bags.
- Bring the waste-filled container to a
Regional Collection Center for safe disposal.
Small amounts of mercury (such as from a broken thermometer) can be cleaned up by doing the following:
- Ventilate the area.
- Keep children and pregnant women away from the area. Mercury is particularly harmful to the
developing nervous system of a child.
- Wearing gloves, use an eyedropper to suck up the beads of mercury, or carefully roll it
onto a piece of paper. You can also use the sticky side of duct tape to pick up the beads.
After picking the mercury up with the duct tape, fold it over to enclose the mercury.
Do NOT use a household vacuum.
- Put the mercury and any contaminated materials such as the eyedropper and gloves in a
plastic jar with a screw-top lid.
- Once all the beads of mercury have been removed, wipe the area with a solution of one
teaspoon bleach to one gallon water. This will react with the residue to eliminate mercury vapors.
- Bring the jar to a
Regional Collection Center.
DNR Contacts
Kathleen Hennings
(515) 281-5859
Kathleen.Hennings@dnr.state.ia.us
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