Dewey toddler treated for severe mercury poisoning

<p align="justify"> (Tulsa-AP) -- A Dewey toddler is being treated for severe mercury poisoning after being exposed to the deadly compound by crawling on the floor in her home.<br><p align="justify">The

Thursday, January 25th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Tulsa-AP) -- A Dewey toddler is being treated for severe mercury poisoning after being exposed to the deadly compound by crawling on the floor in her home.

The Environmental Protection Agency found high levels of mercury in a bedroom carpet in the family's apartment. The E-P-A plans to test friends' homes and an adjacent apartment in Dewey.

Mercury can be spread on the soles of shoes.

The 23-month-old girl is on life support. Her muscles are so weak she can't breathe and mercury has poisoned the cells in her lungs.

Doctor William Banner Junior of the Children's Hospital at Saint Francis says it's the worst case of poisoning he's ever seen.

Mercury is a shiny, silvery-white, odorless liquid. When heated, it is a colorless, odorless gas.