Janitor charged in mercury spill at school (Charged with Terrorism)

UPI ^ | 2-6-04

[Indy Pendance]

DETROIT, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Michigan authorities have decided to charge a janitor who dumped mercury inside the Detroit area high school where he worked with terrorism.

The 52-year-old maintenance employee who worked at Finney High School was expected to be arraigned no later than Saturday, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Charges against the man come nearly two years after the spill and following a lengthy investigation into the incident.

The maintenance worker was having trouble with his co-workers at the east-side school, officials said. In October 2001 he threatened to close down the school that day if his union issues about overtime were not addressed. Then came the mercury spill.

The Detroit school was shut down for a week after 3 pounds of mercury were found in hallways.

Everyone in the building -- 1,300 students and 100 faculty -- were quarantined until their shoes were checked for mercury exposure.

A warrant for the maintenance worker's arrest wasn't issued until Jan. 24 of this year, more than two years after the incident, according to court records.

If convicted, the man could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison and be fined up to $10,000.

[Indy Pendance]

Does anyone know how much mercury was spilt?

[tet68]

Ok, no use crying over spilt Mercury.

I had to, it just came over me.

[SShultz460]

3 pounds..per your article

[doodad]

Says three pounds in the report. That is a sizeable quantity from a hazmat point of view and not safe at all! The threat is as much from the vapors in a confined space as anything.

[Indy Pendance]

Thanks, that went right by me.

[SShultz460]

3 fluid ounces or 100 cc's if you do the density math

[Indy Pendance]

Thanks, went right by me. That is a lot of mercury.

[76834]

Use to have a bottle of the stuff, a BIG bottle.
Used to use it to make coins really shiny, also fun to spill a bit on the floor then try to pick up the blobs.
That was way back when, was probly 12 years old, now am pushing 60 and havnt noticed any bad effects,,,,,,,

[Western Phil]

Used to chase it around the top of the desk during study hall in high school almost 50 years ago, but never had anywhere near the quantity you mentioned.

[DeepDish]

A terrorism charge seems a bit flashy to me. How about 1400 counts of attempted murder, sentences to run consecutively.

[Rightone]

Used to play with mercury all the time when I was a kid. No harmful effects at all. Used to coat coins with the stuff as was mentioned above. Used to even put the mercury coated coins in my mouth. I'm not saying that we haven't found mercury to be harmful since I was a kid, but this is a bit of an over reaction!

[boomop1]

You are right I ran a calibration lab and a big Mercury Manometer broke we were sniffing for weeks. I guess we recovered all of it the day of the spill. The mercury sniffer never did detect much of anything, of course the lab environmental conditions were a constant 15-20% humidity and about 72 degrees temp so that may have controlled containment. No ill effects I am also 61, this happened 26 years ago or so. Heck I remember as a kid playing with the stuff, 50s silly putty.

[76834]

LOL
Back in those days daddy worked for a pipeline company. He had access to all of their gauges and as I understand liquid mercury was a big part of making the gauges work.
A few of us kids stole a quart bottle of the stuff out of daddy's truck.

That is when I was 12, maybe, now am pushing 60 and the neighbors think I am Mad As A Hatter

Wonder Why??

[Rightone]

Did you know that fats are bad for you and carbs are good???

[76834]

More LOL
I try to avoid both of them.
I only ingest Coors........

[Oztrich Boy]

30 years ago, doing a distillation fractionation test on oil.

Measured oil sample is placed in distillation flask, heated, and the temperature range at which the various fractions (0-10%, 10-20%, ....) distill over is measured.

Temperature is measured by thermometer in (open) mercury filled pocket.

This one sample was unsually hi-temp oil.

First noticed although it was still distilling, the temperaure wasn't rising as it should.
Closer look, Odd, bubbles in thermometer pocket.
(Horrible suspicion) duck into office to check CRC Handbook. Oh Sh..! The frajing mercury is boiling!

[Indie]

Maybe that is what is wrong with me. I used to play with mercury and let it roll around in my hand. None of us thought it could hurt you unless it was ingested. Now my brain is fried. [if mercury did this to me, then Kerry must've been playing with something much worse]