Nick wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2019 6:05 pm
simon wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2019 5:27 pm
I imagine the risk from the mercury in our fillings is probably greater.
Well, no, 866's contain liquid mercury, which when running is in the form of vapor. However, if one broke while working, the drop in temperature and pressure would cause the vapor to become liquid again. In terms of risk, its similar to a broken mercury thermometer. However the issue is it being in a rented public space. The cleanup would be the same as a broken fluorescent tube. Or for that matter a mercury level switch or whetted contact relay.
Well, risk is usually considered to be the product of consequence x likelihood. You can play tunes on the scoring matrix, but in the case of breakage of MV rectifiers the consequence isn't great, but I think you could argue that the likelihood is very small considering we have yet to have a breakage at a meet.
OTOH, and it depends very much on one's view I guess, but with mercury amalgam fillings the dentist has to treat the material as hazardous, they can put it in your mouth and that's considered fine, but has to treat it as hazardous material again when it's removed. So my dentists told me a few years back anyway. Likelihood, well, the dental profession has been telling us for years there's minimal risk, but...
Anyway, I'm not meaning to stir anything up. Just I'd much rather have a mouth free of mercury and take my chances with a few hours of exposure to the potential risk of a bottle breakage. Just my opinion.