On December 6, 2016, teachers at Lincoln Elementary School in Green Bay (Brown County), WI discovered that students were playing with a vial of mercury. Teachers notified authorities of the spilled mercury. The children who were playing with the mercury were isolated and the remaining students and staff (~320 people) were sequestered in the cafeteria. The school district hired North Shore Environmental Construction (NSEC) to assist with the response. Green Bay Fire, Green Bay Police, Brown County Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS), Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), and US EPA responded to the school. Students and staff were screened for mercury contamination prior to being released. Six students had contaminated shoes and clothing. Contamination was found in the gymnasium, one classroom, a bathroom, a locker, and the room where the contaminated children were sequestered. School is closed on December 7, 2016 for cleaning by NSEC and clearance by US EPA.
Interviews revealed that siblings also took the mercury vial to Franklin Middle School, 1233 Lore Lane in Green Bay. NSEC screened reportedly impacted areas of the school and the involved students and their belongings prior to releasing them at the end of the school day. Subsequent screening at this school indicated that a classroom and small area of a hallway require additional cleaning. These areas were isolated and were cleaned by NSEC after the school day on December 7, 2016.
The home of the students who brought the mercury to school was screened by WDHS. Mercury concentrations exceeded WDHS’ Lumex (greater than 50 µg/m3. The family was evacuated and the property placarded. EPA, public health, and WDNR worked with the property owner on a clean-up plan on December 7, 2016. EPA initiated a cleanup of the residence on December 7, 2016 and turned the residence back over to local health officials and WDNR on December 11, 2016.
