Emergency crews respond to mercury spill

NILES -- A small amount of spilled mercury kept Niles Fire Department, Trumbull County Haz-Mat and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency at Arlington Arms Apartments on Robbins Avenue from 11:08 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Lt. Todd Thomas of the Niles Fire Department said an apartment resident discovered a 5-ounce container of mercury, labeled as such, in the apartment parking lot when he arrived home. The man took the container inside for safe-keeping but a 2-year-old child in the home found it and opened it. The mercury spilled on a bed and clothing.
The fire department and Haz-Mat isolated the apartment area. Lt. Thomas said mercury, when it gets to a certain temperature, releases fumes that can cause neurological damage in children and pregnant women when inhaled. But that did not happen in this case. A private company that deals in such situations will be handling the removal because specialized equipment is needed, he said.
The family vacated the apartment for the time being. The American Red Cross was at the scene.