3 people treated following mercury exposure at the planetarium

Three people were treated for mercury exposure at Lee Memorial after a lightbulb replacement went awry at the Calusa Nature Preserve and Planetarium.

On Thursday, the three employees with the Hallstrom planetarium at Indian River State College were replacing the planetarium projector bulb; however, the lens broke and fell on top of one of the person’s heads, exposing all three to the toxic element.

All three were immediately rushed to the Lee Memorial Hospital, causing an orange alert to be issued. Hospital patients were forced out due to the lockdown in compliance with the hazmat situation.

All three were immediately put in isolation at Lee Memorial so no one else would be exposed.

The emergency department’s entrance was blocked off, and EMS was diverted for some time on Thursday, but those precautions dropped on Friday morning.

The Hallstrom planetarium employees were exposed to around four to five grams of liquid mercury.

• RELATED: Code orange alert issued at Lee Memorial Hospital

The area was surrounded by yellow caution tape to prevent additional exposure.

A Florida Gulf Coast University professor explained the severity of mercury exposure to humans.

“Mercury is a highly toxic compound,” said Professor Thomas Missimer. “Ingesting it in some form, it can cause … death, and it can cause some other debilitating neurotoxic symptoms.”

Missimer told WINK News that proper treatment, like oxygen and IV liquids, should lead to a recovery.

The planetarium will be closed on Friday for cleaning; however, the nature center will be open to the public.

Raddatz waits on the all-clear from an environmental agency before giving the all-clear to see the stars here again.

“We’re making sure that all due measures are taken into consideration to make sure of the safety and security of everyone here on staff and all of our visitors and families and community of Fort Myers,” said Eric Raddatz, Executive Director of the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium.

The three patients have since been released from the hospital.

“All the people who are involved. They’re all back home; they’re not in the hospital,” said Raddatz.

For more information on mercury, click here.

WINK News will continue to update you on new information whenever it becomes available.

Correction: an earlier version of this story identified the patients as students. They are all employees of Hallstrom Planetarium in Indian River.