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Mercury spill near beach

A hazardous materials team cleaned up a mercury spill near a busy beach in Vancouver, Sunday.

Silvery beads of the liquid metal were spotted along the sidewalk near the bathhouse in English Bay late Sunday afternoon.

Vancouver Fire Department battalion chief Peter Bridge told CTV there’s no clue as to where the mercury came from, but it was vacuumed by the specialized team within a few hours.

Bridge said the spill covered an area about three metres by eight metres, equalling the amount of mercury found in about 100 thermometers.

Mercury is toxic, and firefighters swabbed the shoes of passersby who unknowingly walked through the contaminated area.

Despite the experience, officials are confident exposure was minimal.

– with files from CTV Vancouver 



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