*If you think you or your
child may have touched mercury along Ethan Ave. in the Camp Washington
neighborhood, please call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222*
Site Update
12/9/2024
EPA has conducted mercury screening at three
businesses, six residences and common areas of three nearby apartments since
the start of the response. Asphalt, gravel, and soil are scheduled to be
added to previously removed areas on Ethan Ave as well as replacement of the sidewalk on Colerain. Final
transportation of waste will be to an EPA approved facility.
Site Update 12/5/2024
EPA work was limited to preparing excavated areas for
backfill and pouring of concrete on Colerain Ave due to low temperatures.
Removal of contaminated portions of sidewalk will resume tomorrow. Tomorrow, EPA, along with the city of
Cincinnati, will begin pouring concrete to fill the sidewalks on Colerain Ave
that were previously removed.
Site Update 12/4/2024
EPA has conducted mercury screening at four residences.
Concrete was poured on the sidewalks on Ethan Ave. In the common area of one
apartment building the removal of carpet, padding, and tack strips was completed today. Removal
of concrete and sidewalks continues on Colerain Ave.
Site Update 12/3/2024
EPA
has conducted mercury screening at two businesses, three residences and common
areas of three nearby apartments since the start of the response. Tomorrow,
EPA, along with the city of Cincinnati, will begin pouring concrete to fill the sidewalks on Ethan Ave that were previously removed.
Site Update 12/2/2024
Removal of contaminated soils, concrete and asphalt on Ethan
Ave is complete. Next steps will include backfilling and pouring new concrete.
Colerain Ave and Ethan Ave may have temporary lane closures over the next
several days.
EPA continues to coordinate with local and state officials
to determine whether private residences or businesses need to be screened for
potential mercury contamination. EPA will address any screening or remediation
efforts with the individual owners/renters.
Site Update 11/29/2024
Since Tuesday, EPA has removed soil and concrete along
sidewalks, driveways, and adjacent areas around Ethan Ave. Soil and concrete
that has been removed is contained on site. These areas were identified after
EPA was informed children were playing with mercury after finding a jar of the
product in a nearby junkyard.
EPA was aware that three kids may have been exposed and
screened two businesses and one home. At these locations, EPA did not
identified widespread contamination indoors.
EPA continues to work with state and local agencies. If
anyone believes they may have touched mercury
along Ethan Ave. in the Camp Washington neighborhood, please call the Poison
Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
Background
On Monday, November 25, U.S.
EPA was notified by Ohio EPA that children in the Camp Washington, Cincinnati,
area were playing with mercury in driveways and sidewalks and may have
contaminated homes. EPA is coordinating with the Cincinnati Public Health Department,
Cincinnati Fire Department, Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency and
Ohio EPA to screen homes and people that may have come into contact with
mercury in Camp Washington.
Symptoms from mercury exposure
can include: flu-like illness with suspected exposure; difficulty breathing,
lethargy, confusion, prolonged headache (unusual for patient), for short term
exposure. For longer term, days to weeks from now: visual disturbance,
difficulty walking, weird neuro symptoms like numbness or weakness that doesn't
resolve quickly.
If EPA determines that your
home needs to be screened, here’s what the owner/renter can expect:
If there is a potential for indoor mercury contamination, EPA
will coordinate with the property owner/renter. The owner/renter will have
to sign a “consent for access” form giving EPA permission to enter the property
and perform air monitoring.
An air-monitoring instrument specifically designed for
mercury vapors will be used to give real time concentrations of mercury vapor
readings.
The initial screening is non-intrusive and can be completed
in about 15-30 minutes depending on the size of the property.
EPA will walk throughout the
property with the air monitoring instrument recording mercury vapor readings at
breathing level and floor level and would like to check all rooms of the
property.
Special attention may be given to areas that are identified
by the resident as a common area or an area of the home that the children
frequently use that may have been in contact with mercury.
EPA may also check other items such as laundry machines,
shoes, pet beds, etc. that could be potentially contaminated.
EPA coordinates with local health officials for
action levels for the property (can be different for commercial vs residential,
sensitive populations such as pregnant women or children under 5).
If the screening results are above action levels, EPA
will coordinate next steps including cleanup with the owner/renter and the
local health department.
Mercury removal will include vacuuming the sidewalk and
asphalted areas potentially taking out material that cannot be cleaned. In
addition, the surrounding property (grass/gravel areas) will be excavated and
the contaminated soil placed into containers for disposal.
Affected sidewalks will be closed until clean up and
replacement is completed.
