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More mercury detected inside Walmart, 4th business under evaluation

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Published  December 16, 2019 9:42pm CST
News
FOX 26 Houston

More mercury detected inside Walmart, fourth business under evaluation

New concerns that Houstonians were possibly exposed to mercury at a west side Walmart and two nearby businesses. Now, a fourth business is being checked as well.

HOUSTON - "We now know from law enforcement that the timeline did not begin on Saturday, but the time appears to have begun Friday the 13th," said Dr. David Perse.

Initially, authorities thought the Mercury was predominantly in the Walmart parking lot, the Sonic restaurant, and the Shell Gas Station on Westview and West Sam Houston Parkway.

"We found there's mercury inside the Walmart and in particular, there's a McDonald's inside the Walmart that had higher levels," Perse said. "Across the beltway at a Bucky's, we discovered there's mercury there as well."

More mercury detected inside Walmart, fourth business under evaluation

New concerns that Houstonians were possibly exposed to mercury at a west side Walmart and two nearby businesses. Now, a fourth business is being checked as well.

Police say the person behind the mercury is 19-year-old Christopher Lee Melder and they say he stole it from a lab.

He was arrested by the FBI and is charged with burglary unlawful exposure to hazardous material and an outstanding drug possession warrant.

"We still believe the total amount of mercury is less than a pint," Perse said. "From a health standpoint, I'm not terribly concerned."