Durango Public Library and south City Market have been added to the list of public facilities being assessed for potential health hazards after a mercury contamination allegedly caused by a local homeless man.
Mercury also was found at the Durango Community Shelter, Manna Soup Kitchen, Town Plaza Coin Laundry, the Durango Transit Center and La Plata County Detox.
Durango Fire Marshal Karola Hanks said authorities believe the contamination was accidental.
An emergency environmental restoration crew from Salt Lake City joined the Environmental Protection Agency on Saturday to begin the decontamination process.
Not all of the places that tested positive for mercury had to be closed or evacuated, Hanks said. Spilled mercury was visible outside the transit center, at the community shelter and inside the detox facility.
Analysis at south City Market revealed trace amounts that were not enough to endanger public safety, Hanks said. Trace levels also were found at the library, which was closed as a precautionary measure.
Of the five initial locations, the Durango Transit Center and the Manna Soup Kitchen are expected to reopen today. Residents of the Durango Community Shelter were allowed to return Saturday afternoon.
Charges against 46-year-old Daniel Plummer are pending, Hanks said Saturday.
“Mr. Plummer is being held and charged, and they’ve been working on what those charges are,” Hanks said. “Part of that is dependent on the dollar value and the consequences of clean up, so that makes it difficult.”
Cleanup costs could reach beyond the initial estimate of $100,000. “It’s not cheap,” Hanks said.
After arriving Friday night, teams from the EPA began assessment and emergency restoration using chemical compounds and adhesive solutions that make the liquid metal more manageable.
“Mercury is not something that you can just sweep up,” Hanks said. “If you try to sweep it, it just disperses into smaller little globules that roll everywhere, so they use a detergent that amalgamates it, or brings it together.”
Hanks added that authorities worked together to prioritize the cleanup process based on potential impact on public safety.
Hanks described the detox facility as “seriously contaminated.”
Mercury is commonly used in thermometers because its volume expands with rising temperature. Also known as quicksilver, it’s a chemical element that is not illegal, but exposure to the metal’s vapor is dangerous, especially to children.
“Mercury exposure is a long-term issue,” Hanks said. “It’s not something that you are exposed to and then develop symptoms immediately. They are long term, with things like tremors, neuromuscular issues and some cognitive function challenges.”
Other symptoms include impairment of hearing, vision and speech, and loss of coordination. Mercury exposure also can lead to greater health complications, including damage to the brain, kidneys and lungs.
No information as to where Plummer acquired the mercury was available Saturday.
“It’s not uncommon in our part of the country,” Hanks said. “It’s common in mining areas, old barns and buildings. We’ve been slowly trying to clean it up, but it’s still out there.”
It is believed that Plummer, who is being held at the La Plata County Jail, was carrying an undetermined amount of mercury in his backpack in a container that broke, Hanks said. Hanks was restricted from disclosing any details about his medical condition, but said any potential issues would be addressed.
“He is under custody, and we will take care of his medical issues while he’s in our custody,” Hanks said. “I don’t know how long he has been here, but I would anticipate a while. He spends a lot of time residing in a tent, and law enforcement is working on that end of it.”
Hanks said there is no time frame on how long restoration will take.
“The key here is for the community to know that we’re being cautious and giving all due diligence to ensure they’re safe,” Hanks said.
bmathis@durangoherald.com
