November - The Hazmat Division of SBCFD received a Mercury Vapor Analyzer, a Lumex RA-915 Light to be exact, through a Supplemental Environmental Project by the US Environmental Protection Agency. This much needed piece of equipment is valued at over $20,000.

The Lumex RA-915 Light is one of the only real-time mercury detection instruments approved by the US EPA Emergency Response Team and Superfund Technical Assistance and Response Team for verifying that mercury vapor levels are safe for re-occupancy after mercury spills have occurred at schools or residences. It uses a technology called Atomic Absorption Spectrometry to provide virtually instantaneous and accurate readings of mercury vapor concentrations in air at extremely low levels.
Elemental or metallic mercury is a shiny, silver-white metal and is liquid at room temperature. It is used in many materials, such as thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs and some electrical switches. When dropped, elemental mercury breaks into smaller droplets that can go through small cracks or become strongly attached to certain materials. At room temperature, exposed elemental mercury can evaporate to become an invisible, odorless toxic vapor. People can be exposed to elemental mercury vapor when products that contain mercury break and expose mercury to the air, particularly in poorly ventilated spaces.

The health effects that may result from mercury vary with the magnitude, dose, and duration of exposure. Children are more sensitive to mercury and thus are at greater risk than adults from certain exposures. Children breathe faster and have larger lung surface areas relative to body weight than adults, resulting in a greater dose of mercury per unit of body weight. Children are shorter in stature than adults and engage in activities such as crawling or playing on the floor. As a result, their breathing zones are closer to the floor, where mercury vapor levels are higher. Chronic exposure can also cause hypertension and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Exposure to mercury vapor (greater than 1.0 microgram per cubic meter of air) over prolonged time periods can cause neurobehavioral effects, including mood changes and tremors.

Mercury spills in households and schools are a relatively common occurrence that SBCFD Hazmat Division Emergency Response personnel respond to throughout the County Of San Bernardino.