MOSCOW -- Most of the occupants of Phinney-Brink Hall on the University of Idaho campus will be allowed to return to their offices Monday afternoon, following a weekend clean-up of lead dust that was found in the building earlier this week.
While early tests found unusually high levels of lead-contaminated dust in the lower floors of Phinney-Brink, tests Thursday showed the majority of 100 samples came back clean.
The UI asbestos abatement crew will be working over the weekend to clean areas with mild or no contamination. The clean-up process entails use of a HEPA-filtered vacuum and then three separate moppings of all horizontal surfaces.
"The good news about lead is it's heavy so it drops, so they only have to clean horizontal surfaces," said Kathy Barnard, associate director of university communications and marketing.
Parts of the two lower levels of Phinney-Brink will remain closed until a more thorough cleaning can be done next week. That space houses UI Press and faculty from the forest resources, sociology/anthropology and English departments.
Those departments are working with facilities staff on temporary accommodations.
Safety officials said those at highest risk from lead dust exposure are small children, who are more likely to ingest the dust while playing on the floor or by bringing toys carrying dust to their mouths.
The safety office will conduct a special question-and-answer session Tuesday for all occupants of Phinney-Brink.