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MIT student has no signs of exposure after creating dimethyl mercury
USA Today • • nation
Key Points:
- An MIT building will remain closed at least through August 30 following a graduate student's reported synthesis of the highly toxic chemical dimethyl mercury on August 26.
- The student self-reported to an emergency room and initially showed no signs of mercury exposure, though updated information questions whether dimethyl mercury was actually synthesized.
- MIT is conducting specialized decontamination of the building and the student's residence hall, while offering baseline testing to individuals near the lab on the day of the incident.
- Officials believe the risk of secondary or tertiary mercury exposure is very low and do not recommend testing for those not present in the lab space on August 26.
- The incident recalls the 1997 death of Dartmouth professor Karen Wetterhahn, who died from acute mercury poisoning after accidental exposure to dimethyl mercury.
