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Due to “recordable levels of mercury vapor,” the Miller Place School District announced that the high school’s gym would be closed on Monday, April 29 as district officials continue testing and investigating.
According to officials, they believe that previous flooring that has been covered up with new wood in the gym may have led to the emission of mercury vapors. A News12 report states that similar problems have been reported in New Jersey, and may cost millions of dollars to fix.
"As a precautionary measure, and based on the advice of the district’s environmental consultants, the district is keeping the gymnasium closed, and restricting all access, until further testing is conducted and a plan of action based on the results of that testing is determined," Miller Place Schools Superintendent Marianne Cartisano said in an email.
According to the New York State Department of Heath, inhaling high levels of mercury on a short-term basis can cause coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain and nausea. Longer-term exposure can result in damage to the nervous system and kidneys, causing tremors, insomnia and memory loss.
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