Mercury Testing Services

Cinnaminson, New Jersey, November 12, 2024

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency describes mercury as a naturally-occurring chemical element found in rock in the earth's crust, including in deposits of coal. It exists in several forms including elemental mercury, inorganic mercury compounds, methylmercury, and other organic compounds.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) cautions that mercury is used in many industries. It’s used to produce chlorine gas and caustic soda, and in thermometers, barometers, batteries, and electrical switches. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration also lists manometers, gauges, valves, and high-intensity discharge lamps, along with its use in preservatives, heat transfer technology, pigments, catalysts, and lubricating oils.

Some examples of workers at potential risk of being exposed to mercury include the following, according to NIOSH:

• Workers in facilities where electrical equipment is manufactured
• Workers in fluorescent light bulb (CFL) recycling facilities
• Workers in facilities where automotive parts are manufactured
• Workers in chemical processing plants that use mercury
• Workers in medical, dental, or other health services who work with equipment that contains mercury
• Dentists and their assistants when breathing in mercury vapor released from amalgam fillings

“Mercury can also be an exposure concern in residential environments if older thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs, science project kits, or other items containing it are damaged,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “At room temperature, exposed elemental mercury can evaporate to become an invisible, odorless toxic vapor. Exposure to organic mercury compounds can also come from eating foods that contain it.”

EMSL Analytical, with laboratories across North America, provides environmental, material, and industrial hygiene testing services to identify exposure risks to mercury and other heavy metals. These services can be instrumental for not only safeguarding workers and the public, but also for helping to keep companies in compliance with health and safety regulations to avoid costly penalties.

EMSL recently sponsored an educational video about mercury exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/-xa0OEDFiD0 

To learn more about mercury or other material, industrial hygiene, environmental, health, and safety testing resources, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675, or email info@EMSL.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOCs, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.