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Massachusetts Institute of Technology Building 18 Remains Closed Following Graduate Student's Reported Synthesis of Toxic Dimethyl Mercury

A chemistry building at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology remains closed at least through August 30 as officials conduct specialized decontamination efforts. The closure follows a report from a graduate student who claimed to have synthesized dimethyl mercury, a highly toxic chemical compound, while working in Building 18. Although the student was not authorized to work with the compound, they self-reported to an emergency room and remain under medical supervision. Initial blood tests conducted on the student showed no signs of mercury exposure, and emerging information now calls into question whether the compound was actually synthesized. Despite the uncertainty, the school is taking precautions out of an abundance of caution. High-touch surfaces in the student's residence hall were professionally cleaned, and the student's individual unit was sealed. Officials believe there is a very low risk of secondary or tertiary exposures for those who were not in the immediate lab space on August 26. Individuals who were in close proximity to the student and the workspace were offered baseline testing.

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