SHEFFIELD, Ohio — Nearly 50 students were exposed to mercury that authorities say a boy stole from a classroom and divided up among some friends on a school bus.

        No students have shown signs of mercury contamination, but authorities said Friday they will recheck dozens of their homes and offer blood and urine testing to parents and their children.

A worker cleans a school bus contaminated by mercury brought on board by a student in Sheffield, Ohio, on Wednesday. (Associated Press photo) | ZOOM |

        Investigators found a “significant level” of mercury in the home of the boy who stole the metal and evacuated the residence, said Reginald Brown of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

        Effects of exposure can range from dizziness and memory loss to damage to the kidneys and brain, depending on the amount of mercury and duration of exposure.

        The bus, which carried 47 students from kindergarten through high school from four schools, was cleaned Friday. Authorities did not know if it could be used again.

        Sheffield schools Superintendent Ron Lindsey said the boy, whose age and name were not released, took a jar containing about 5 ounces of mercury Wednesday from the science room at Lorain County Joint Vocational School, which serves high school juniors and seniors.

        On the bus, he gave some of the mercury to at least three other boys and the students played with it. Most of the students who were on the bus had traces of mercury on their shoes and clothing, Mr. Brown said.

        Health and environmental officials planned to check the other three schools, Brookside High School in Sheffield Village, Open Door Christian School in Elyria Township and St. Jude School in Elyria, as a precaution.

        The boy who stole the mercury will be suspended on Monday and could face criminal charges, school officials said.

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