The De Soto Post Office, 950 Boyd Street, is shut down today, Oct. 26, after a small amount of mercury spilled from a box, and a Post Office employee was taken to an area hospital as a precautionary measure, De Soto Fire Chief Tony Ochoa said.
He said the incident involved “maybe an ounce of mercury.”
Ochoa said the U.S. Postal Service’s chemical response team responded for cleanup.
“It (the De Soto Post Office) will probably be open tomorrow,” he said.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, mercury is a neurotoxin, and exposure to it can be severe, subtle or may not occur at all.
According to the U.S. Postal Service website, liquid mercury in any amount and devices containing a visible amount of mercury are prohibited from the U.S. mail, so people must find another carrier for those items. Some consumer devices, like compact fluorescent light bulbs, contain tiny amounts of mercury vapor, which are considered restricted but mailable.
The website further states that anyone who knowingly mails materials that are dangerous to life, health or property could be fined at least $250 but not more than $100,000; could be ordered to cover the cost of cleanup and damages; and could face possible criminal penalties.
On Friday, Oct. 27, the USPS released a one-sentence statement, “The USPS is currently investigating a potential Hazmat concern at the DeSoto, MO, Post Office and the Network Distribution Center in Hazelwood, MO.”