How does microwaving mercury contaminate the whole complex?
Is it airborne?

More appropriately, who the hell is stupid enough to put mercury in a microwave and TURN IT ON???

First, the molecules take up the small blind position. Particles fold round to sixth and fourth, who match the big blind, leaving the molecules to call with Ace-Queen off-suited. Big Blind checks. Ace-Two-Two comes up on the flop, big blind and fourth check and sixth bets out. Molecules call, big blind and fourth fold. Another Ace comes on the turn, sixth checks, the molecules slow play and check, the river is trash. Sixth checks again. Molecules bets out. Sixth folds. And THAT'S HOW YOU GET MERCURY POISONING.

I'm sorry. That was, in fact, from Johnny Chan's "million dollar hold 'em." It's usually a far more useful reference guide than "how mercury poisoning happens," by Dr.James Boring, although in this case, probably not.

It's airborne. Yeah. That's definitely how it happened.

It was in a pressure cooker, not a microwave. And he had some sort of insert in the pressure cooker.

As an apartment manager (in the same neighborhood as this complex in fact), I cannot stress to you enough the importance of renters insurance. This story is a perfect example.
Seven years ago, we had a fire at one of my buildings. 24 of the residents didn't have insurance, so they were simply homeless for a month. The 2 people that did have insurance spent the month at a hotel of their choice. They also got all of their clothing cleaned of smoke damage and any damaged possessions replaced.

Ah, so it was a pressure cooker? Well, now, that, I can totally understand.

I mean, what kind of nutter uses a MICROWAVE to combine Mercury with other chemicals to make alternative fuel? But a pressure cooker, well, that's a solid ethical choice.

And cheers for the advice, Martin. We scrapped ours months ago, but a situation like this makes you wonder.

oh man. i always knew that guy was a nutter. i lived across the hall from him on the 3rd floor last summer. him and his lady had lived in that STUDIO for eons. he would wander the alleys with "inventions"- but he was definitely the guy to go to when you needed someone to macgyver something when you locked yourself out and needed to break into your kitchen through the trash chute in the hall...

By the way--and this may not be the most tasteful time to mention this--but I do have two studios available on SE 14th and Boise down in Brooklyn if any of you Ladd's Addition Apartments people are reading this. Totally mercury free!

Why not stick your phone number on here too Martin? I promise not to prank call for at least the first four minutes.

Oh no. I've brushed off Katie Lake and her advertising department lackeys too many times to trust my phone number to a Mercury blog.

I just reread my comment and now feel that I should have included this:
;)

Naa.

Yes, please post your # Martin. I will umm inquire.

Thanks, prospective prank err tenant.

Okay, you have convinced me that I won't get pranked. Call me for more info about this beautiful studio at--OOPS--I almost forgot I have a new toll-free number! It's 1-800-932-2888. Let me tell you, it's a very stimulating apartment.

matt d., you sound like me explaining "the universe" to my five-year-old nephew. the last time, he was all "why do you talk so much about MOLECULES?"

embarrassing. i blame the fact that i majored in chemistry for both the molecules and my inability to actually coherently explain the universe.

i would be amazed if it were really only mercury that caused the whole big deal, as i'm assuming the mercury came from a thermometer, which would be a small amount, since i don't see someone thinking yeah, pure boiled mercury, that'd be a great alternative fuel.

it's good that people were evacuated and checked out by doctors. but having worked in labs and endured many big bad smells that were worrying but not deadly (until the cancer, but that's much later), i wonder if some over-reacting may have occurred here.

i hope these people who want it get their stuff back. it's not like the fumes converted everyone's gym socks into pure uranium. 'cause then this poor guy would be extremely wealthy.

Damn. I knew your newspaper could smell funny now and then -- but to get poisoned by it?