Can you take a mercury thermometer on a plane? Can I take a mercury thermometer on an airplane? Is it possible to take thermometers on board an aircraft - legislative acts

Not to say that many passengers like to transport hazardous chemicals by air travel, but quite a few of them want to take with them, for example, such a common device as thermometer. This is especially important for those passengers who want to fly with small children - they constantly need medicines, and a thermometer is usually included in the most standard first aid kit.

But later it turns out that taking such a thing as a thermometer with you not allowed due to mercury content. Another thing is if it is an electronic thermometer - this, of course, is possible. But why you can't carry mercury on an airplane?

The answer is clear - Is it dangerous. Mercury is a highly toxic substance that can be harmful to humans even in small amounts. Mercury reacts very well with air releasing toxic substances.

This is why large volumes of mercury are usually transported by sea. Even if something happens to the ship, for example, it crashes and sinks, then the barrels of mercury will go to the bottom and lie there for quite a long time. Mercury reacts little with water, and even if it starts to react, the reaction products are of little danger to the inhabitants of the sea and its vegetation. But in a plane crash, mercury can spread over the surface of the earth and harm the environment, including even animals and people.

But we are not talking about barrels, but about a milliliter of mercury, which is contained in a thermometer. So, even in small quantities?

Why mercury can't be carried on an airplane

1) If the thermometer accidentally breaks, poisonous mercury vapor can damage the respiratory tract those sitting next to you. This is especially dangerous for small children, who are likely to be on the flight. And safety on board always comes first.

2) Not only mercury vapor is dangerous. Herself mercury reacts well with aluminum oxide, which covers all the aluminum that makes up some parts of the aircraft. Even a small drop of mercury can damage the integrity of the fuselage. And even the smallest hole in this part of the aircraft can disrupt its aerodynamics, which is unacceptable.

Basically, you don't need to know chemistry to get on a plane. It is enough just to remember that mercury should never be taken on board, even in small quantities. Well, in case someone inexperienced asks you, why you can't carry mercury on an airplane you can tell him about it.

When the question of travel arises and the question of how to get to the destination is decided, we often choose the plane. It is convenient, fast, and the plane is considered the safest mode of transport. And so we bought tickets, and a bunch of questions begin to arise in our head. Is it possible to bring this or that thing with you?

Many people take a mercury thermometer with them, but they don’t know if it can be checked in as luggage, or can it be taken with you in hand luggage, or is it generally forbidden to take it with you? Let's try to understand this issue.

Despite the fact that electronic thermometers are very common all over the world, we continue to believe in mercury ones and try to smuggle them on board the aircraft. However, most companies do not allow you to take a thermometer with you on board the aircraft. It can be checked in as baggage, previously packed in a plastic case, and put in such a way that it is not damaged under any circumstances.

But in no case, you can not take a thermometer in your hand luggage. Most companies will force you to check your thermometer in your luggage. Only a small number of airlines allow you to take a thermometer in hand luggage. This point must be clarified with the airline you intend to fly.

Situations are different, and maybe a person actually needs to constantly measure the temperature. But after all, you can take an electronic thermometer with you in your hand luggage, and the good old mercury thermometer, check it in your luggage and use it for your pleasure upon arrival, where you need to.

We must not forget that no matter how careful you are, the thermometer can be broken during the flight and the entire cabin will breathe poisonous mercury vapor. I don't think you should endanger yourself or others.

Let's come to the right conclusion. If you really need a thermometer, then buy an electronic one, and check the usual one in your luggage. And if you do not want to take care of your safety and the safety of other people, then be extremely careful.

And don't forget to check with your airline whether or not you can take your thermometer in hand luggage. If it is forbidden, be sure that no matter how you resist, it will be taken away from you and will not be given back.

Both on domestic and international airlines, airlines are responsible for the safety of passengers during the flight. In this regard, strict requirements have been adopted for the carriage of hand luggage and luggage on airplanes.

Therefore, many people cannot determine for sure whether thermometers can be transported on airliners. Before answering this question, it is necessary to determine which thermometer is intended for transportation. If we are talking about an electronic thermometer, then there is no ban on transportation. Restrictions are only on the amount of transported goods. You can determine it by familiarizing yourself with the list of items allowed for transportation located at airports in advance, or by contacting the administration of the air carrier with this question. As for mercury thermometers, here the issue is more acute.

Is it possible to take thermometers on board an aircraft - legislative acts.

1. On December 7, 1944, Appendix 18 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation was adopted, doc. MOGA "Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air", which prohibits the transportation of medical special products containing mercury. This list also includes a mercury thermometer. A deviation from these rules is the transportation of 1 medical or clinical thermometer in a classic plastic case only in the baggage compartment, where air passengers do not have access. In carry-on baggage, an exception is granted for the carriage of 1 professional thermometer, properly packed, with the permission of the air carrier.
2. Since January 2018, new instructions on the rules for the transportation of goods that pose a danger to the life of passengers, adopted by the International Civil Aviation Association - ICAO, have come into force, which deal with the ban on the transportation of mercury thermometers in the cabin of all airliners. This ban is advisory in nature.
3. On June 22, 2018, the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation approved new “Rules for conducting pre-flight and post-flight customs inspection of hand luggage and baggage”, according to which restrictions were introduced on the transportation of mercury medical instruments, including thermometers. On the basis of this document, an air passenger is entitled to carry one mercury thermometer properly packed in a standard case and checked in as baggage.

At the same time, passengers have the right to transport other medical instruments (pressure gauges, tonometers, etc.) in hand luggage, sealed in special sealed containers, 1 pc. per person. The same restrictions apply to all crew members.

Rosaviatsia accepted these instructions. However, Sheremetyevo airport authorities said they are looking forward to supporting information specifying the new procedure for such air transportation. Domodedovo airport confirmed their agreement with the new resolution and stressed that they have not and will not have problems with the removal of mercury medical instruments from passengers' hand luggage, as they have specialists trained to work on the disposal of waste of all hazard groups.

According to A. Sinitsky, editor-in-chief of Air Transport Review, who supported the innovations, this will enable air carriers to get rid of the need for long-term and expensive work on demercurization of the aircraft cabin if mercury from an accidentally broken thermometer scatters in it.

Despite the strictness of the adopted standards, the IATA code states that each company is given the right, on its own initiative, to make decisions on the application of the rules for air transportation of hand luggage on board the aircraft. In this regard, passengers are advised to clarify with the carrier airline the conditions for transporting medical mercury thermometers before purchasing tickets.

In case of an urgent need to take a medical thermometer into the cabin, and the airline forbids this, or there is no way to contact the company administration, it is safer to use an electronic temperature meter, which is allowed by all companies without exception.

Is it possible to take medical thermometers on a plane, it is difficult to answer unambiguously. You can take one sealed tool in your checked baggage. Some companies allow hand luggage as an exception, while others prohibit it. This is due to the danger to the health and life of air passengers in case of damage to the mercury instrument. In this regard, before the flight, it is better to contact the air carrier directly and clarify the rules for transporting a mercury thermometer. It is even safer to take an electronic thermometer with you on the road, which is allowed by any company.

What threatens mercury from a broken thermometer?

As you know, mercury belongs to the list of the most dangerous chemicals. It causes corrosion of metals; may endanger the health, safety, property of passengers or the environment. For humans, it is not so much mercury itself that is dangerous, but its fumes. If mercury enters the body, acute poisoning occurs, which is detected by certain symptoms. In this case, it is necessary to immediately induce vomiting in a person in order to disinfect the body. The situation with mercury vapor is more complicated. To obtain acute poisoning, its evaporation of 0.13 - 0.80 mg / cubic meter is sufficient. Domestic thermometers contain 1 g, and imported thermometers - 2 g of mercury. One broken thermometer can poison at least half of the passengers, since intoxication of the body occurs by inhaling vapors along with air. Approximately 80-85%% of them remain in the body, thereby poisoning the kidneys, heart, and brain. Particularly dangerous is mercury that has spilled into the cabin of the aircraft in small balls, because it cannot be collected without special equipment. equipment is practically impossible and because of its volatility, it will poison the entire environment.