EPA Completes Elemental Mercury Cleanup in Valley Park, Missouri

EPA Completes Elemental Mercury Cleanup in Valley Park, Missouri

February 23, 2026

LENEXA, KAN. (FEB. 23, 2025) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed the cleanup of elemental mercury from a residence in Valley Park, Missouri, after receiving a report that a resident had spilled mercury in their home.

On January 31, 2026, the Valley Park Fire Protection District responded to a 911 call from a concerned resident after they spilled elemental mercury, also called metallic mercury, in their home. After arriving on-scene, securing, and containerizing three vials of elemental mercury, the Valley Park Fire Protection District informed the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) about the spill. At the request of MoDNR, EPA Region 7 cleaned up the spilled elemental mercury in the home to prevent further spread of mercury off-site.

An EPA on-scene coordinator confirmed the presence of liquid elemental mercury inside the home. Mercury vapor levels inside the residence were observed to exceed the indoor air residential removal action goals of 1,000 nanograms per meter cubed (ng/m3) and presented a health risk to the resident.

EPA completed an emergency removal action to address the release of elemental mercury that was causing the elevated mercury vapor concentrations in the home. Removal actions included:

• Using specialized mercury removal equipment to remove liquid elemental mercury that had been spilled at the residence.
• Assessing and removing contaminated personal belongings and bulk items.
• Heating and ventilating the home.
• Painting and sealing porous concrete surfaces in the basement that were impacted by mercury during the spill.
• Regular screening of mercury vapor concentrations with portable, mercury vapor analyzers.

Elemental mercury is extremely difficult to clean up. Once spilled, mercury beads can scatter and settle into cracks in the floor and beneath baseboards. Additionally, it is very tough to get mercury out of clothes, furniture, carpet, and other porous items.

While small spills - such as those from vintage, mercury-filled thermometers - can usually be managed with proper care, individuals without proper training and equipment typically worsen the situation and put themselves and others at significant risk for exposure to mercury and mercury vapors. Individuals should avoid using ordinary household items such as mops, paper towels, towels, and vacuums for cleanup, as these can often spread elemental mercury throughout homes and increase mercury vapors.

Mercury can impact people's health in a variety of ways and depends on several factors such as form of mercury; amount of mercury; age of the person exposed; how long the exposure lasts; how the person is exposed; and health of the person exposed.

Learn more about the different forms of mercuryand common exposure routes to elemental mercury.

Residents of St. Louis, St. Louis County, and Jefferson County can dispose of unwanted hazardous waste, including mercury and mercury-containing devices (such as thermometers, thermostats, and mercuric salts), at St. Louis Hazardous WasteExit EPA's website. The first 50 pounds of waste are subsidized.

To report a spill or suspected spill of a hazardous substance, please contact the National Response Center at 800-424-8802 or the EPA Region 7 Spill Line at 913-281-0991.

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