Health Advisory: Mercury At Martinez Amtrak Station More Widespread

MARTINEZ, CA — Authorities issued a level 2 hazardous material public health advisory late Tuesday for areas of downtown Martinez near the Amtrak Train Station.

Further investigation by county health officials shows traces of mercury were inadvertently spread by a garbage truck while traveling on its route after picking up contaminated trash from a waste receptacle at the Amtrak station in downtown Martinez on Monday, county officials said.

Minor mercury contamination has been detected in the street on Marina Vista Avenue to Alhambra Avenue to Buckley Street to Berrellesa Street, Contra Costa County Public Health officials said in the advisory.

"Residents are advised to avoid walking in the street," public health officials said. "If you must be in the area, please remain on the sidewalk."

To reduce the potential risk of exposure to mercury, Contra Costa Health asks the public to avoid walking on the streets in affected parts of downtown Martinez and use the sidewalks until the residue of a spill is removed, so people or pets do not track the material indoors.

The contamination is limited to the street and has not been detected in amounts great enough to create an immediate risk to health.

“From a health standpoint, our primary concern is that people don’t step in the mercury on the street and bring it inside their homes where indoor vapors may pose a health hazard,” said Dr. Ori Tzvieli, Contra Costa County’s health officer.

Tzvieli added that while the health risk posed by exposure to mercury from this release is low, it’s important for the community to be informed of any potential health risks and take appropriate actions.

Cleanup will be occurring for the next several days in the area, officials said.

The station has been closed since mercury was discovered Monday afternoon in the parking lot of the Amtrak Station at 601 Marina Vista Ave.

Around 3 p.m. Monday, Contra Costa Health was contacted by Con Fire when an ambulance sent to the Amtrak station for another issue witnessed the mercury, a Contra Costa Health spokesperson told Patch.

"We also closed the station to prevent the spread of contamination and avoid community exposure to mercury vapor," Spokesperson Will Harper said. "We are working to further assess the situation and make sure it's safe. The matter has also been referred to law enforcement for investigation."

Initially, the mercury release was thought to be contained to the area immediately outside the train station. But after examining the five-block route taken by the city of Martinez garbage truck today, Contra Costa Health’s hazmat team and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identified small amounts of mercury in the roadway, primarily on Marina Vista and Alhambra avenues and Berrellesa Street.

Sections of these streets will be temporarily closed over the next several days while cleanup takes place: Marina Vista Avenue between the station and Alhambra Avenue; Alhambra from Marina Vista to Buckley Street; Buckley from Alhambra to Berrellesa Street; Berrellesa from Buckley north to the Martinez City Public Works yard.

Mercury was also detected inside the train station itself.

Capitol Corridor trains have been stopping at the old station depot — Ferry Street — since the hazmat investigation began and will continue to do so.

It is not known who dumped the mercury at the Amtrak station or why. Local law enforcement is investigating the matter.

In a media briefing Tuesday night, Contra Costa Health officials said it was a rare occurrence. The amount of mercury spilled was "significant" and more than what would come from a broken thermometer or similar medical device, Deputy Health Director Matt Kaufmann said.

It was initially thought to be 1-1.5 pounds of mercury but the county was still working to confirm that, as well as whether the hazardous material made it into any waterways. Some mercury did go into a storm drain but it was not immediately clear whether that drain feeds into any waterways that enter the Bay, Kaufmann said.

The county is working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to make that determination, Kaufmann said.

In addition to cleanup over the next several days, officials will also be monitoring the air to make sure people passing through the area are safe — as warmer weather can create more vapor, he said.

The main message for the public, officials said, was to avoid tracking mercury from the street into their residences or other indoor spaces where vapor builds up.

Anyone who was at the Amtrak station Monday and thinks they may have stepped in mercury should take precautions to avoid contact with it, county health officials said. Shoes or clothes that have touched mercury should not be brought inside if it can be avoided. Never attempt to wash an article that may be contaminated with mercury, by hand or with a washing machine, county officials said. This can increase the risk of the mercury being vaporized.

Anyone concerned about possible contamination should call the county's Hazmat Program at 925-655-3200 during regular business hours for further handling instructions.