On November 29, 2019 it was reported that approximately 1 lb of mercury was released within a trailer house located at 1605 West Market Street #6, Silver City, NM. The trailer house is a rental property and was occupied by three adults. The spill was reported by the responsible party to the poison control hotline who recommended the occupants have their blood tested for mercury poisoning. The poison control hotline then reported the spill to the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). The NMDOH reported the spill to the Las Cruces NM Fire Department (LCFD), New Mexico Environmental Department (NMED), and the New Mexico State Police (NMSP).
The LCFD responded to the incident with the NMSP. The LCFD utilized a mercury spill kit and the NMED's Lumex mercury analyzer to address the gross contamination. The FD secured the gross contamination into plastic bags and left them within the trailer. On December 2, 2019, the NMDOH submitted NRC report #1265288 and on December 3, 2019 requested EPA's assistance to determine the mercury vapor levels within the trailer.
