Woman Hospitalized After Drinking Mercury-Contaminated Tea in Russia

A 45-year-old woman in Naro-Fominsk was rushed to hospital after drinking tea contaminated with mercury. The incident happened on February 8 when a child accidentally broke a mercury thermometer and poured its contents into the cup. Her condition is now described as moderate following emergency treatment.

The poisoning took place in an apartment on Marshal Zhukov Street. A child playing indoors broke a household mercury thermometer and, unaware of the danger, tipped the toxic liquid into a prepared cup of tea. The woman drank it without noticing anything unusual.

She was quickly taken to a medical facility, where doctors performed urgent detoxification. Mercury is a highly poisonous substance, and ingestion demands immediate intervention to prevent severe health damage.

Russian health authorities report that such cases remain rare. Between 2021 and 2025, only 12 mercury poisoning incidents were officially recorded nationwide. Most involved household accidents or illegal gold mining in regions like Siberia and the Far East.

The woman's health has stabilised, though she remains under observation. Doctors have repeated warnings about storing mercury thermometers and other hazardous items securely. Proper handling and keeping them out of children's reach could prevent similar accidents in the future.