Daijiworld Media Network - Cambridge
Cambridge, Aug 31: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) reopened its Building 18 on Monday after closing the chemistry building for several days following a graduate student's claim that they had synthesised the highly toxic chemical dimethyl mercury.
The incident began on August 26, when the graduate student reportedly went to a local emergency room and said they had synthesised dimethyl mercury in a chemistry laboratory. The substance was not authorised for the student's research programme, and MIT subsequently launched an emergency response and decontamination operation.
MIT initially closed the affected area and later shut the entire Building 18, which houses the Department of Chemistry, while specialised decontamination work was carried out. The student remained under medical supervision, but an initial blood test showed no signs of mercury exposure. MIT later said emerging information had raised questions about whether dimethyl mercury had actually been synthesised.
The chemical is considered extremely hazardous. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has warned that less than 0.1 millilitres can constitute a severely toxic dose. Dimethyl mercury can enter the body through skin exposure and inhalation and can cause severe mercury poisoning.
The dangers of the compound were highlighted by the 1997 death of Dartmouth College chemistry professor Karen Wetterhahn. She developed fatal mercury poisoning after a few drops of dimethyl mercury penetrated her protective gloves.
Following the incident, hazardous-material and environmental teams worked to assess and decontaminate the laboratory. High-touch surfaces in common areas of the student's residence hall were professionally cleaned, while decontamination of the student's individual accommodation was completed on August 30.
MIT said there were no restrictions placed on the residence hall and officials assessed the risk of secondary or further exposure as very low. People who had been near the student and the affected workspace on August 26 were offered baseline testing. Those who had not been inside the student's laboratory were not advised to undergo testing.
The Cambridge Fire Department also responded to the initial incident. Local officials said the surrounding area was surveyed and appeared to be clear, while information provided to authorities indicated that a small amount of material had reportedly spilled inside a laboratory hood.
MIT officials said the chemical was not part of any authorised research activity. The university's chemistry department also stated that MIT does not permit the purchase or synthesis of dimethyl mercury.
After reviewing the decontamination work, medical information and assessments from industrial hygienists and medical experts, MIT determined that Building 18 was safe to reopen at 6 am local time on August 31.
The university continues to monitor the situation, while the circumstances surrounding the reported chemical synthesis remain under assessment.