title: Notes from the field: elemental mercury spill in school bus and residence - North Carolina, 2013.
abstract: On September 16, 2013, the North Carolina Division of Public Health was notified of an elemental (metallic and liquid) mercury spill on a school bus. An elementary student boarded the bus with approximately 1 pound (454 g) of elemental mercury contained in a film canister, which the student had taken from an adult relative who had found it in a neighbor's shed. The canister was handled by several students before the contents spilled on the bus floor. Ten passengers aboard the bus were exposed, including eight students and two staff members. Although elemental mercury is not readily absorbed from skin contact or ingestion, it does vaporize at room temperatures and inhalation of the vapor can be harmful. The bus driver promptly notified school officials. Firefighters and a local hazardous materials team directed decontamination procedures (i.e., changing clothes and washing hands and shoes) for the 10 exposed passengers. The bus was immediately taken out of service and sent for disposal because of its age and the cost of decontamination.
authors: Ricky
authors: R
authors: Langley
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Hirsch
authors: Jesse
authors: J
authors: McDaniel
authors: Valerie
authors: V
authors: Lott
authors: Mina
authors: M
authors: Shehee
authors: Samantha
authors: S
authors: Migit
authors: Anna R
authors: AR
authors: Dulaney
authors: Jose
authors: J
authors: Negron
authors: Aaron
authors: A
authors: Fleischauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015913:Chelation Therapy; D002648:Child; D003666:Decontamination; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D009657:North Carolina; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012574:Schools; D004113:Succimer / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States; D014484:United States Environmental Protection Agency
chemical_list: D004113:Succimer; D008628:Mercury