OT: Mercury (Was: BBS software for the PDP 11)

[Paul Koning]

> On May 22, 2017, at 10:21 AM, Christian Groessler via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
> 
> At least here in the EU, they banned mercury batteries, mostly used by old photo gear, and then supported light bulbs containing mercury.
> 
> How many people will need and by these batteries and how many people need and buy light bulbs?
> 
> Go figure...

I could make all sorts of comments but since that's politics it would be off topic.  Mercury batteries seem to be banned in the USA also, or at least they aren't available any longer.  Annoying since I have some microphones that use them.  I suppose I could make an adapter to fit in some 3v lithium cells and get "close enough".

I'm not sure if "mercury" batteries contain metallic mercury or mercury salts.  Metallic mercury is actually pretty much harmless, even though bringing a thermometer into a US school can cause a major panic.  Mercury salts are a different matter.  Mercury vapor should also be avoided, at least in significant quantities and long term exposure, as my father found out as a university student in chemistry.

	paul