Piñon High School
reported mercury free

By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

PIÑON — The Navajo Nation’s Bio-Terrorism Preparedness Program reported that Piñon High School was announced clear of mercury by an industrial hygienist at 5:44 p.m. on Tuesday.

Piñon Unified School District Superintendent Larry Wallen said that there were no injuries in the incident where a thermostat containing mercury was broken in the high school’s south hallway on Monday afternoon. The school was closed Tuesday because of the small spill.

The area of the spill was sealed off and the high school’s insurance group was contacted to provide technical assistance with the cleanup, the bio-terrorism preparedness program said.

As a precautionary measure, two health stations were set up on Tuesday morning to screen students and staff who may have been exposed to the mercury. About 38 people were screened, including 13 employees of the school. Three custodians were referred for a follow up and one is being monitored, according to the bio-terrorism preparedness program.

Wallen also said that the school is looking into changing all mercury-filled thermostats and installing electronic ones.
According to the tribe, the Navajo Area Indian Health Service Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility responded to the scene with an Incident Management Team and immediately set up an incident command site at the school’s administrative site. The emergency response team included the Navajo Division of Health Bio-Terrorism Preparedness Program, Department of Emergency Management, Navajo Department of Health Environmental Health, Navajo Commission on Emergency Management, Navajo Department of Public Safety, Piñon Unified School District ’s Insurance Representatives and an environmental clean-up team from Arizona, including NAIHS-Piñon Health Center . 
The bio-terrorism program reported that mercury is harmful if vapors are inhaled or if someone comes in direct contact with the chemical.

Facts about mercury

It is noncombustible. It does not burn, but may react upon heating to produce corrosive or toxic fumes.

Mercury runoff may pollute waterways. Preventive measures must be taken to keep mercury from entering waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas.

If one comes in contact with mercury, on the skin or in the eyes, the area must be flushed immediately with running water for at least 20 minutes. Call for emergency assistance.

If the chemical has been inhaled, the exposed individual must be moved to fresh air and given artificial respiration if not breathing. Clothing and shoes should be removed and isolated if in direct contact with the chemical.

— Provided by the Navajo Nation Bio-Terrorism
Preparedness Program