1.1.1 Incident Category

This incident involves an assessment of a private residence where an occupant spilled mercury in the home.

1.1.2 Site Description

The Site consists of a single family residence in a densely occupied residential neighborhood in Cordova, Tennessee. 

1.1.2.1 Location

 The Site is located at a residential property on Englehart Street, Shelby County, Tennessee.  The specific address is located in the official log book for the incident.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

On November 19, 2015 the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Emergency Response, Removal and Preparedness Branch (ERRPB) Region 4 Telephone Duty received a report that an child in Cordova TN had brought mercury home from a construction Site and spilled it inside a residence. According to the child’s mother, the child brought the mercury home in August and subsequently became ill over the next several months. The mother found the mercury in September and disposed of it in the trash. On November 20, 2015, OSC Spurlin and an EPA Tetratech START contractor mobilized to the residence to screen the resident’s home for mercury vapor.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

After obtaining access from the property owner, the EPA contractor utilized a Lumex mercury vapor analyzer to screen all areas of the residence, including rooms, clothes, furniture, personal items, garage, and the driveway.

2.1.1 Narrative

Mercury vapor monitoring equipment was utilized to evaluate the residence for the presence of mercury which may exceed the EPA mercury vapor action level of 1 microgram per cubic meter. 

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

On November 20, 2015, EPA and the EPA contractor donned appropriate protective equipment and entered the residence.  Each room, as well as furniture, clothes, and personal items, were assessed for the presence of mercury.  Mercury vapor readings above 1 microgram per cubic meter were detected in the childs bedroom.  Specifically, bed linens and cloths laying on the bed had a sustained reading of 1.1 micrograms per cubic meter.  Additionally, the top drawer of the childs dresser, suspected to be the location where the mercury was stored, had a level of 1.4 micrograms per cubic meter.

The homeowner removed and bagged the bed linens and cloths from the bed and drawer.  A recheck of these areas indicated mercury vapor levels had been reduced to 0.0 micrograms per cubic meter.  The owner placed the bagged material in the trash can outside the home.  No other significant mercury vapor readings were detected in the house.  The EPA exited the home and demobilized after discussing the findings of the assessment with the owner.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

The property owner information is located in the EPA logbook. 

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

No further response actions are anticipated for this incident.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

2.2.2 Issues