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Buckets Of Toxic Mercury Found In Hesperia Home

HESPERIA (AP) — Buckets of toxic mercury have been found in a Southern California desert home, forcing evacuation of the house until hazardous material experts clear the structure.

San Bernardino County fire spokesman Jay Hausman says authorities, acting on a tip, showed up at the Hesperia home early Tuesday.

Hausman tells the Victorville Daily Press that a pound of the liquid metal was found in buckets.

He says a man in the home was extracting mercury from computer components, but it's unclear what he planned to do with the metal.

The man, whose name hasn't been released, was cited for possession of a highly toxic substance.

Hausman says the man and a teenager were ordered to leave the home until a private hazardous materials team removes the mercury.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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