By james art 
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USA TODAY
FREMONT – After a tip, the Sandusky County Emergency Management Agency seized more than 35 pounds of liquid mercury on Jan. 21 from someone who had the poisonous substance for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
“Everything went well with the situation,” said Emergency Management Agency Director Lisa Kuelling. “The individual who had it was very cooperative with us once the situation was explained… Our primary goal was to protect the lives and safety of those who could be affected by this hazardous material if it had fallen into the wrong hands.”
She explained that the dangers of liquid mercury are in the possible release or accidental breakage of the containers. She called it a dangerous nerve agent on the list of toxic pollutants included in the United States’ Clean Air Act of 1990, which “must be controlled to the greatest extent possible.”
Kuelling estimated that the total amount of liquid mercury seized weighed between 35 and 40 pounds. It is in several glass containers, including numerous glass mercury keys.
A major spill is considered something bigger than a broken thermometer.
She said the person had not yet sold any of the liquid mercury.
“My professional opinion is that he was not looking maliciously,” Quelling said.
A concerned citizen sent a tip to Kuehling.
“He was working at a job where they tore down an old scrap yard and found him in the scrap yard,” Quelling said. “At that point we didn’t think it was part of a terrorist act. It was just something he found at work.
She added that no charges have been filed at this time.
Liquid mercury vaporizes at room temperature, filling the air with invisible mercury atoms that are odorless and soluble in oils and fats. When inhaled, it is easily absorbed by the body, from where it first enters the lungs and then the blood and brain, where it can cause kidney problems, respiratory failure and death.
Liquid mercury is commonly associated with glass thermometers.
“Liquid mercury was the norm. It wasn’t unusual, and it didn’t really become anything on anybody’s radar until the Clean Air Act was passed in 1990,” Quelling said. “It is illegal to sell liquid mercury. You should not have liquid mercury due to dangerous reasons. You should not have liquid mercury in your home. If you have old thermometers, Solid Waste does a great program during household cleanup days where they will take old thermometers.”
She said the danger in the devices comes when the glass breaks.
“It always requires the local fire department, myself and the Ohio EPA to come in and do cleanup and disposal, even with something as basic as an old thermometer,” she said.
Green Springs Volunteer Fire Department, Sandusky County Hazardous Substance Squad, Sandusky County Public Health, City of Ballville, Sandusky County Prosecutor’s Office and Sandusky County Sheriff’s Office assisted in this incident.
Additional information regarding liquid mercury can be found at the Ohio Department of Health, Ottawa Sandusky Seneca Solid Waste District and Ohio Revised Code Section 3719.32.
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