Homes Tested For Mercury Contamination

Advisory Report - September 2000

Homes Tested For Mercury Contamination
Approximately 200,000 homes in Chicago, Illinois will be tested for Mercury contamination.  Mercury may have been spilled or leaked inside residential homes when old regulators were removed from gas meters.

Nicor, a Naperville natural gas company, is investigating whether its employees or contractors spilled the mercury in residential homes.  According to the Chicago Sun-Times (September 6, 2000), Nicor will increase the number of two-person crews checking houses for mercury from 40 to 150 crews.  Nicor hopes to complete all 200,000 inspections within six months.

Mercury is harmful to both humans and animals. Children are more susceptible to mercury poisoning than adults. Exposure to even small amounts of mercury over a long period of time may cause negative health effects, including damage to the brain, kidney, lungs and the developing fetus. 

Brief contact with high levels of mercury can cause immediate health effects including loss of appetite, fatigue, insomnia and changes in behavior or personality.  Depending on the length or degree of exposure, additional symptoms, such as nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, eye irritation, weight loss, skin rashes and muscle tremors may occur.

To learn more about Nicor and the mercury situation, visit www.nicor.com/gas/mercury.htm.