A lot of people don't seem to realize just how toxic some heavy metals are. Organic mercury compounds can kill by skin absorption from a drop through gloves for instance... Mercury has a high vapour pressure too, so spilled mercury can pollute the air continuously over time. The metallic form is less dangerous than the organic compounds, until of course it reacts with something (or is metabolized by bacteria perhaps). You absolutely don't want that stuff lurking in a domestic environment...
And heavy metals are typically much more toxic to children than adults, you need to consider their vulnerability as well as your own.
History is littered with insane practices with heavy metals including mercury compounds being used in medicines and cosmetics - The short life expectancy in ancient times wasn't only due to disease... Ever heard the phrase "mad as a hatter"? Look up its origin...
The cost of cleaning up a mercury spill to make a building habitable again can be 6 figures or more. Think about it...
And heavy metals are typically much more toxic to children than adults, you need to consider their vulnerability as well as your own.
History is littered with insane practices with heavy metals including mercury compounds being used in medicines and cosmetics - The short life expectancy in ancient times wasn't only due to disease... Ever heard the phrase "mad as a hatter"? Look up its origin...
The cost of cleaning up a mercury spill to make a building habitable again can be 6 figures or more. Think about it...
I've read through the legal instrument and the Minamata convention document that is referenced by the legislation and can't see anything that indicates that vacuum tubes fall under the stated legislation.
From the legislation:
"mercury‑added products means the products listed in Part 1 of Annex A to the Minamata Convention that contain mercury"
From the Part 1, Annex A:
Batteries
Switches and relays
Compact Fluorescent lamps
HP Mercury vapour lamps
Cosmetics
Pesticides, biocides, antiseptics
Non electronic measuring devices (barometers, hygrometers etc).
Dental Amalgam
And this legislation only prohibits manufacture, import & export but not possesion:
(1) For the purposes of subsection 92(1) of the Act, a person must not:
(a) manufacture a mercury‑added product in Australia; or
(b) import a mercury‑added product into Australia; or
(c) export a mercury‑added product.
And besides, there is always this perfectly good get out clause:
but does not include: (d) products used in traditional or religious practices; or
And we all know how we worship that blue glow 🤣
From the legislation:
"mercury‑added products means the products listed in Part 1 of Annex A to the Minamata Convention that contain mercury"
From the Part 1, Annex A:
Batteries
Switches and relays
Compact Fluorescent lamps
HP Mercury vapour lamps
Cosmetics
Pesticides, biocides, antiseptics
Non electronic measuring devices (barometers, hygrometers etc).
Dental Amalgam
And this legislation only prohibits manufacture, import & export but not possesion:
(1) For the purposes of subsection 92(1) of the Act, a person must not:
(a) manufacture a mercury‑added product in Australia; or
(b) import a mercury‑added product into Australia; or
(c) export a mercury‑added product.
And besides, there is always this perfectly good get out clause:
but does not include: (d) products used in traditional or religious practices; or
And we all know how we worship that blue glow 🤣
Why not simply do what we've always done? Ignore stupid laws that do no good.
I still have several old style thermometres for the candy pot and the deep fryers, I can't see the sense in not keeping them and continuing to use them as the glass tubes are surrounded by the stainless steel safety cages and the possibility of them breaking is so minuscule.
I really dislike punitive retroactive legislations.
I still have several old style thermometres for the candy pot and the deep fryers, I can't see the sense in not keeping them and continuing to use them as the glass tubes are surrounded by the stainless steel safety cages and the possibility of them breaking is so minuscule.
I really dislike punitive retroactive legislations.
Some people are 'as mad as a hatter' about mercury.
Look it up.
It has also been referred to in "Through the Looking Glass", also known as "Alice in Wonderland".
Look it up.
It has also been referred to in "Through the Looking Glass", also known as "Alice in Wonderland".
Ingesting liquid mercury by far isn't as poisonous as inhaling it's vapours. Believe it or not: During my time as student at dental school we've been shown a slide showing the whole-body xray of some man who had intended suicide by injecting about 30 ml of mercury into his vessels. He did survive, but the radiography was spectacular.
Did you know that beech or oak dust produced by sawing or ginding these woods is by far more cancerogenous than asbestos?
Best regards!
It seems that the destruction of the mercury vapour rectifiers described in the original posting was all the result of a mis-reading or mis-understanding of the new Australian regulations. Not only is possession still allowed, but so also, apparently, is the buying and selling of existing items containing mercury that are already in Australia. It is a shame that a lot of vintage mercury vapour tubes seem to have been destroyed for no good reason.
: " Did you know that beech or oak dust produced by sawing or ginding these woods is by far more cancerogenous than asbestos
? " .
🤨
? " .
🤨
I think it is silicosis that is the main issue with asbestos.
I saw a documentary about the stuff, and there were pictures of asbestos falling like snow outside a factory where it was produced, and kids kicking footballs in that.
Anyway, now I read that 'sitting is the new smoking', so not much we can safely do anymore.
Drive down a country road that has lots of asbestos in the dirt.
Try that every day for your whole life, and it might be cut short.
The death rate for Humans has been very accurately determined . . . it is 100%.
Try that every day for your whole life, and it might be cut short.
The death rate for Humans has been very accurately determined . . . it is 100%.
Coincidentally I lived in a village where farmers had gotten asbestos garbage for free (wow, how generous) to fill up their terrain. There were a few cases of asbestose in that community.
Not exactly the same, but quite similar in it's appearance. It's called asbestosis properly.
Best regards!
Silicosis is from breathing silica dust and is going to be this generation's asbestosis for engineered stone workers.
Here in Oz, they are heading towards banning engineered stone because of it:
Australia moves to fast-track ban on silica stone benchtops that cause fatal lung disease
Here in Oz, they are heading towards banning engineered stone because of it:
Australia moves to fast-track ban on silica stone benchtops that cause fatal lung disease
Silicosis or "brown lung" was a problem here in the states. Regular sand used in "sand blasters" creates the fine dust that causes it.
It's since been banned for such purposes. I own a blaster but use glass beads in it. Even with ventilation there's still a bit of dust.
It's since been banned for such purposes. I own a blaster but use glass beads in it. Even with ventilation there's still a bit of dust.
When in doubt, read the published law and worship safely. 🙂
I think that the Minimata Convention is a good thing and most national governments have responded with sensible laws, including here in Oz. Similar laws saw most of us turn in transformers, capacitors and other items that incorporated polychlorinated bi-phenyls (PCBs). Other laws have regulated the use of asbestos, which is responsible for forms of silicosis, mesothelioma and other diseases (see here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Banton) and, as flagged earlier in this thread, I think we will soon regulate engineered stone. And so on ....
Sometimes I feel inconvenienced by these laws and want to have a grumble - but then I wonder if my hobbyist's desire to do as I wish is really so important that it would see my son or my daughter or their friends at work using materials and techniques that we know are are likely to harm their health?
Really? If you're able to discern between two different rectifiers just by listening, you amplifier is poorly designed.
Best regards!
Best regards!