Hidden Hazard in Plain Sight: Many School Gym Floors Contain Elemental Mercury
Summary
This spongy (cushioned) flooring material is resilient; resisting water damage and absorbing the shock of pounding of feet and tumbling bodies which reduces the chance of injury. Unfortunately, the floors may also contain unbound mercury that exceeds the EPAs Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) limits and can be classified as hazardous waste. Additionally, we recommend air quality sampling be conducted to determine if students and staff are being exposed to mercury vapors in gymnasiums or adjacent areas. Abatement of the floors was conducted in negatively pressurized containments by workers trained to handle hazardous materials after a competitive bid process managed by Terracon for the school district. The air sampling program made sure students and staff were not exposed to mercury at unsafe levels and a plan for future abatement was developed.
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