Neonatal mercury vapor exposure in an infant incubator
McLaughlin, J.F.; Telzrow, R.W.; Scott, C.M.
Pediatrics 66(6): 988-990
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-4005 PMID: 7454493 Document Number: 157050
A healthy newborn infant acquired a substantial body burden of mercury by inhaling mercury vapor originating from a broken mercury expansion switch in the heating unit of an infant incubator. Highly toxic mercury vapor is produced in quantity by heating otherwise harmless metallic mercury. Switches and thermometers that contain mercury should be removed from infant incubators.