Mercury Spill Update
Mitigation efforts for a mercury spill are well underway in portions of San Juan Basin Health Department. An EPA team arrived late Tuesday afternoon to assess the situation. They found that the vast majority of the building had basic background levels for mercury consistent with what would be expected for our region. In the area where the leakage occurred, they found levels exceeded acceptable EPA levels. Mitigation entailed removing the carpets from the affected areas, wiping down surfaces and replacing filters in the building's heating, ventilation and air conditioning system as an added precaution.
A toxicologist for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry was consulted on potential human exposure. He and EPA Response Team determined that the situation did not pose a significant health risk to any individual. David Romero, EPA Emergency Response Program’s On-Scene Coordinator stated that the limited time and level of exposure would not have posed a potential health risk to any of the staff or clients.
"The level of cooperation and response by all parties involved continues to assist in this incident being resolved as quickly and safely as possible," said Mark Quick, Division Chief for Durango Fire & Rescue.
San Juan Basin Health Department remains closed at this time to facilitate complete remediation.
Media Release issued February 16, 2012 Durango Fire & Rescue Contact
970-335-2087
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