Sheffied, OH - 3/23/2001

Mercury taken on school bus; 47 kids exposed
By MOLLY KAVANAUGH and CATHERINE GILFETHER, PLAIN DEALER REPORTERS

Health officials yesterday were checking homes and clothing of 47 Lorain County students for mercury contamination.

School officials alerted parents of a mercury spill aboard a bus full of youngsters. Students from three schools may have been contaminated after a student took a jar of the toxic metal onto a school bus Wednesday.

Students were seen rolling a pea-size ball of mercury down the aisle after a student took it from the Lorain County Joint Vocational School, school officials said.

Although none of the students complained of ill effects, all of their homes were being tested last night for contamination.

Other students at the vocational school may have been exposed to mercury after walking into a classroom that authorities suspect is contaminated, school officials said.

Students on the bus ranged from kindergarten to high school seniors. The route includes the vocational school in Oberlin, Open Door Christian School in Elyria, St. Jude School in Elyria and Brookside High School in Sheffield.

Parents were notified of the incident in a letter yesterday afternoon, although the bus driver, transportation supervisor and a number of parents knew about the mercury the day before. Some parents were angry about the delay.

Parents were instructed to turn over clothes and shoes the students had been wearing on the bus. Children were told to remove their shoes when they got off the bus yesterday at Brookside and were given white baggies to wear on their feet while they waited for their parents.

Bob Kauffman, transportation supervisor, said the bus driver called him Wednesday and said students were playing with some kind of substance on the bus. The students refused to turn over the container, and the driver told Kauffman later in the day that she thought the substance was mercury.

Superintendent Ron Lindsey said he did not learn about the incident until yesterday morning. By then, the contaminated bus had been sent back on its route.

Lindsey said he was reviewing the actions of the driver, whom he described as experienced. He would not identify the driver or comment further.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the effects of mercury exposure can range from dizziness and memory loss to long-term damage to the liver, kidneys and brain, depending on the amount of mercury and duration of exposure.

William R. Randall, superintendent of the vocational school, said an unidentified welding student took the jar from a science room cabinet Wednesday, a day when the class had a substitute teacher.

Randall said that he did not know how much mercury was in the jar but that more than a pea-size amount was involved.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Lorain County Emergency Management Agency, the Lorain County General Health District and Chemtron, a hazardous cleanup company in Avon, were investigating. The students involved may face disciplinary action and criminal charges.

Mercury can be dangerous because of its high toxicity. When inhaled or absorbed through the skin it can cause immediate and long-term health problems.

Lorain County Prosecutor Gregory A. White ordered the clothing of students on the bus to be held for analysis. A statement from Lorain County EMA said some of the clothing, mainly shoes, was contaminated.

Leslie Szalai, whose 8-year-old son Corey was waiting at school with baggies on his feet, said she learned about the mercury Wednesday. A concerned neighbor, whose daughter also attends St. Jude, called to tell her. When she asked Corey, he said he had touched the mercury.

Szalai called a hospital emergency room and was told to wash her son’s hands. She said that advice surprised her. "We were told if a thermometer ever breaks, don’t touch it," Szalai said.

Brookside Junior Charles Reed said most everyone on the bus knew about the mercury. "Everybody said, Don’t touch it,’" Reed said.

Reed handed in his shoes and book bag yesterday, not sure when or if he would see them again.

CHEMIS - Chemical Health & Environmental Management Information System -
	Mercury taken on school bus; 47 kids exposed By MOLLY KAVANAUGH and CATHERINE GILFETHER, PLAIN DEALER REPORTERS Health officials yesterday were checking homes and clothing of 47 Lorain County students for mercury contamination. School officials alerted parents of a mercury spill aboard a bus full of youngsters. Students from three schools may have been contaminated after a student took a jar of the toxic metal onto a school bus Wednesday. Students were seen rolling a pea-size ball of mercury down the aisle after a student took it from the Lorain County Joint Vocational School, school officials said. Although none of the students complained of ill effects, all of their homes were being tested last night for contamination. Other students at the vocational school may have been exposed to mercury after walking into a classroom that authorities suspect is contaminated, school officials said. Students on the bus ranged from kindergarten to high school seniors. The route includes the vocational school in Oberlin, Open Door Christian School in Elyria, St. Jude School in Elyria and Brookside High School in Sheffield. Parents were notified of the incident in a letter yesterday afternoon, although the bus driver, transportation supervisor and a number of parents knew about the mercury the day before. Some parents were angry about the delay. Parents were instructed to turn over clothes and shoes the students had been wearing on the bus. Children were told to remove their shoes when they got off the bus yesterday at Brookside and were given white baggies to wear on their feet while they waited for their parents. Bob Kauffman, transportation supervisor, said the bus driver called him Wednesday and said students were playing with some kind of substance on the bus. The students refused to turn over the container, and the driver told Kauffman later in the day that she thought the substance was mercury. Superintendent Ron Lindsey said he did not learn about the incident until yesterday morning. By then, the contaminated bus had been sent back on its route. Lindsey said he was reviewing the actions of the driver, whom he described as experienced. He would not identify the driver or comment further. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the effects of mercury exposure can range from dizziness and memory loss to long-term damage to the liver, kidneys and brain, depending on the amount of mercury and duration of exposure. William R. Randall, superintendent of the vocational school, said an unidentified welding student took the jar from a science room cabinet Wednesday, a day when the class had a substitute teacher. Randall said that he did not know how much mercury was in the jar but that more than a pea-size amount was involved. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Lorain County Emergency Management Agency, the Lorain County General Health District and Chemtron, a hazardous cleanup company in Avon, were investigating. The students involved may face disciplinary action and criminal charges. Mercury can be dangerous because of its high toxicity. When inhaled or absorbed through the skin it can cause immediate and long-term health problems. Lorain County Prosecutor Gregory A. White ordered the clothing of students on the bus to be held for analysis. A statement from Lorain County EMA said some of the clothing, mainly shoes, was contaminated. Leslie Szalai, whose 8-year-old son Corey was waiting at school with baggies on his feet, said she learned about the mercury Wednesday. A concerned neighbor, whose daughter also attends St. Jude, called to tell her. When she asked Corey, he said he had touched the mercury. Szalai called a hospital emergency room and was told to wash her son’s hands. She said that advice surprised her. "We were told if a thermometer ever breaks, don’t touch it," Szalai said. Brookside Junior Charles Reed said most everyone on the bus knew about the mercury. "Everybody said, Don’t touch it,’" Reed said. Reed handed in his shoes and book bag yesterday, not sure when or if he would see them again.	Back to Top


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