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Mercury-like substance closes Beavercreek post office

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The lobby of the Beavercreek Post Office and parking lot were blocked off Friday as SWS Environmental Service worked the scene.

Staff photo by Ty Greenlees The lobby of the Beavercreek Post Office and parking lot were blocked off Friday as SWS Environmental Service worked the scene.

By Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer Updated 4:19 PM Friday, November 4, 2011

A few drops of an unknown liquid thought to perhaps be mercury closed the Beavercreek Post Office for several hours Friday.

A report of drops of a liquid on the lobby floor at 8:45 a.m. led to a private hazardous materials cleanup team to be called and evacuate the building.

“The drops led out into the parking lot as well,” said U.S. Post Office spokesman David Van Allen. “It appeared to me mercury; that’s what it looked like. Mercury is a hazardous material so that prompted our safety protocols to go into place.

“It did not affect (mail) delivery, because the carriers were in the back leaving the building at the time it was discovered.”

As of 3 p.m. Friday, Van Allen said environmental experts had not told him what the substance was or where they suspected it came from.

The post office’s lobby and parking lot were blocked off as SWS Environmental Service worked the scene.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s website said mercury exposure at high levels can harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system of people of all ages.

The EPA site also said pure mercury is a liquid metal that volatizes readily. It has traditionally been used to make products like thermometers, switches and some light bulbs.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-6951 or mgokavi@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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