Oracle Online

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Health were called to investigate the incident, the e-mail reported. Pollution Control and the Health Department stated, “That there is no immediate emergency or threat to the health of people in the building.”

The basement of Drew Science is sealed until further notice while cleanup crews assess the leak and begin the cleanup process, Health Services said.

While Health Services assures there is no threat to the population, Director of Health Services Barb Bester said if any person wishes to be screened, Health Services “will make it happen. We use a company that screens persons as well as cleans up chemical spills, so we will call the screening crew back in and get it all sorted out.”

Students, faculty and staff, however, should not be in danger. “It takes a great deal of exposure to even be concerned about the possibility of mercury poisoning. It is very unlikely that anybody is at risk,” Bester said.

Immediate exposure creates no symptoms while prolonged exposure usually manifests itself in physical as well as psychological areas Bester said. Director of Media Relations Jaqui Getty said that the Minnesota Department of Health did not believe that testing was even necessary. “Even so,” Bester said, “we want to put people’s minds at ease. The health and safety of people at the university is our primary concern.”

Mercury screening was held in Robbins Science Center on Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. “So far we have had five people come in for screening” Getty said on Nov. 7. “One professor, one security guard and three students have come in for screening.”

Classes that were scheduled for the basement of Drew Science moved to either Robbins Science Center, Giddens Learning Center or the third floor of Drew Science.

The Minnesota Department of Health is still investigating the spill, Getty said.

“A search was conducted throughout the rest of Drew Science and the basement was the only area contaminated. The east wing of Drew Science entrance is cordoned off until the crews are satisfied that the spill is gone,” Getty said.
Anyone with questions or concerns should contact Health Services at x2204.