High temperatures, electrical discharges, or nuclear radiation can cause ionization.
As it is volatile and has a low flash point, the static discharge may cause a fire.
This time the two discharges caused him to lose consciousness for a few seconds.
State and Suffolk County health officials have said the discharges caused no damage.
Those discharges can cause seizures and loss of memory and control of the body.
Scotland Yard released a statement saying it regretted that an accidental discharge had caused injury.
"We must assume it's going to fire again," she said, thoughts racing ahead to the damage another such discharge might cause.
Electrical discharge may cause production of impurities degrading the dielectric's performance.
The limited current discharge causes the stream to be reduced to minor temporary pools of water except during spring.
An electric discharge in the tube causes the mercury atoms to emit ultraviolet light.