Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: May 2, 2007

HEALTH and DEM Officials Available to Answer Questions About Cranston Mercury Spill Thursday, May 3, 4:00-8:00 p.m.

On Thursday, May 3, officials from the Department of Health (HEALTH) and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will be available to answer health-related questions parents and students may have about exposure to today’s mercury spill at Cranston High School East. Experts will be available from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the Briggs Building of the school at 845 Park Avenue in Cranston. The session will be an opportunity for people to drop-in with individual questions—there will be no formal presentation. HEALTH is specifically interested in talking to kids who spent more than a few hours in the storage room where the spill occurred. Officials at this session will only be answering health-related and exposure questions. Specific questions about the incident itself and school closure should be directed to 270-8178 or 270-8170.

HEALTH wants people to know that there are no acute effects from short term, low-level mercury exposure. Testing for mercury exposure from this event is unnecessary. People who are concerned about mercury on their clothes or shoes should leave the clothing outside in the open air for 24 hours so that any residual mercury can dissipate. Clothing can be washed normally after 24 hours.

Additional information about mercury can be found at the Department of Health website at www.health.ri.gov or by calling the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.