Hazmat team responds to Erwin mercury spill

ERWIN TOWNSHIP — Members of the Upper Peninsula Regional Hazardous Materials Team responded to a reported mercury spill in Erwin Township Wednesday.

Shortly before 3:30 p.m., a township resident was cleaning a basement when a glass bottle of mercury was knocked over, breaking it and spilling the mercury, according to a release from the Ironwood Public Safety Department.

The homeowner evacuated the house and called 911.

The responding hazardous material team recovered approximately three ounces of mercury, along with several contaminated items.

The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department will continue to provide support and assistance to the family.

Mercury is a liquid metal and shown to be highly toxic, even in small amounts, an IPSD spokesman said and can be either inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

The department encourages anyone encountering a spill to call 911.

—Richard Jenkins