EPA finds poisonous metal at controversial Highview property

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to confirm 6211 Applegate Lane is the site of a scheduled cleanup by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials have detected mercury, a poisonous metal, at one of the two properties in Highview where Louisville officials have considered doing a controlled burn.

The mercury was found at 6211 Applegate Lane, which is next door to the home of Marc Hibel, who was arrested last month after Louisville Metro Police says it discovered homemade explosives at the site.

His home at 6213 Applegate and the abandoned house next door have been closed off to the public and under police surveillance since the discovery.

Air monitoring performed by the EPA and Louisville Metro determined mercury concentrations inside the building at 6211 Applegate are over federal health risk levels, according to the release. However, it said there are no health risks to people outside.

The EPA’s recommendation for what to do with the properties is expected this week, when it will clean up the site at 6211 Applegate Lane with the help of state agencies, according to a release from Louisville Metro Government.

Hibel was arrested July 27 and faces charges including wanton endangerment. His public defender has filed a motion to block a controlled burn, saying that it would be an "unnecessary destruction" of Hibel's property and deprive him of his due process rights.

More: What to know about the Highview home where explosives were found

Where was the mercury found?

Besides the high concentrations inside 6211 Applegate Lane, the EPA found visible mercury beads on the concrete driveway.

Mercury vapors can be poisonous, but the mercury vapor coming from the driveway is diluted to undetectable levels in the air and poses no health risk to anyone nearby, according to the release. However, these beads can be tracked off-site or back into the home on the shoes of anyone who walked through the area.

No mercury has been found in the surrounding area or off the property, the release said.

Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness screened the shoes and vehicles of first responders who walked through the property recently and identified very low or no presence of mercury, which does not pose a health risk. The small amounts of mercury that may have been tracked off the property have most likely evaporated and dispersed, the release said.

Why is mercury exposure dangerous?

Metallic mercury is a silver-colored liquid that has been used to make many kinds of products, like glass thermometers, fluorescent (CFL) lamps and light bulbs, and medical and science equipment. If a product with mercury in it breaks, causing the shiny liquid to spill, it can turn into poisonous fumes.

According to the EPA, symptoms of prolonged or acute metallic mercury exposure can include body tremors, mood swings or irritability, insomnia, headaches or muscle atrophy. Higher exposures may also cause kidney effects, respiratory failure and death.

I live in Highview. Should I be tested for mercury exposure?

Residents who have been physically inside the fencing on the property on Applegate Lane over the past month can contact the city health department for free mercury screening of shoes and vehicles.

Screening only takes a few seconds and will reveal if mercury was tracked from the property. Screening will take place at the health department's main office, 400 E. Gray St.. Residents can call (502) 574-6650 to schedule an appointment.

For general questions about potential health effects of mercury exposure, residents should call Kentucky Poison Control at (800) 222-1222.

What happens now?

A controlled burn of Hibel's home and the attached garage was initially proposed after the explosive materials were found. Mayor Craig Greenberg, who declared a state of emergency, said crews would not be able to safely remove hazardous material, especially while wearing cumbersome protective gear, because it is a "hoarder's house."

City officials said that could lead to the evacuation of residents, and the city held a meeting with neighbors Aug. 7.

Greenberg said that day that he would consult the EPA for other options before a controlled burn takes place.

The EPA’s cleanup is expected to last three days, and the agency is expected to make a recommendation for the property at 6213 Applegate Lane in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the area has been cordoned off. Police, fire and other city employees have been advised not to enter the area.

A portion of Applegate Lane, adjacent to the home, will be restricted to local access only during the hours of the operation.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Highview 'hoarder's house': Mercury found inside Applegate Lane property