Glen Cove school officials are moving to replace three gym floors after air testing revealed the presence of mercury vapors in polyurethane flooring installed decades ago.
The issue came to light during preliminary conversations about upgrading the middle school gymnasium floor. District consultants and architects advised that some rubberized floors manufactured in the 1960s and 1970s were made using mercury to help keep the material flexible. Mercury, a naturally occurring heavy metal, is toxic in certain forms. At room temperature, it can release vapors that pose health risks after long-term exposure, affecting the nervous, digestive and immune systems, as well as the lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.
Testing by the district’s environmental consultant, JC Broderick, showed that the Glen Cove Middle School gym had mercury vapor levels of 0.33 micrograms per cubic meter—well below New York State’s safety threshold of 0.75. The high school auxiliary gym, however, measured 2.94 micrograms per cubic meter, nearly four times the allowable limit.
Superintendent Dr. Alexa Doeschner said the district acted immediately by closing the high school auxiliary gym, launching an abatement plan, and installing engineering controls such as barriers and enhanced ventilation. While the middle school gym tested safely, officials plan to remediate that space as well, out of what Doeschner called “an abundance of caution.”
Although the floors are safe to use in the short term with current ventilation, the district has decided to replace all three—the high school auxiliary gym and both the upper and lower middle school gyms. The projects will not be completed before the start of the school year.
According to a tentative timeline, the high school auxiliary gym is expected to reopen by Sept. 15, with all gyms projected to be ready by Oct. 1. In the meantime, summer recreation programs and student activities have been relocated to outdoor facilities, including the Knight Stand fields by the football field.
“We understand this news may cause concern,” Doeschner wrote in an Aug. 1 letter to families. “Please know we are acting swiftly and responsibly, following all safety guidelines and environmental regulations. Our top priority is ensuring our school facilities are safe and healthy for everyone.”
District officials said further testing will be conducted throughout the year to ensure mercury levels remain below state thresholds
