Lead removal - with mercury?

[Piet]

I have already returned the mercury to the original owner. (without using it)
Thanks for the great feedback on this thread.
I have done some research too: see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(element)
Some interesting facts about mercury. Seems as if it played a big role in the gold mining industries -and with the green guys in Kopenhagen, this is a relevant subject. Somewhere I read that some 45,000 tonnes of mercury was unaccounted for by small gold mines in USA.
Apparantly the standard mercury (in the element form) is not readily absorbed through the human skin, and also not readily absorbed if swallowed - the vapour is the culprit, and other chemical variations - can be lethal even in very small dosages. One guy tried to inject someone with the standard mercury in order to murder the person. It did not work.
Mercury seems to have the ability to attach other heavy metals.
Thanks for the alternatives - I will take my pick from them.
Happy Christmas!
Piet