On August 10, 2025, the Salt Lake County Health Department and the Utah Division of Environmental Response and Remediation (DERR) responded to a residential property where a mercury-containing thermometer had broken inside a dryer. The homeowner was told to run their dryer to volatilize any remaining mercury after removing the clothes from the dryer. After the homeowner ran the dryer several times, the State made two follow-up visits on August 12th and 20th. Despite this effort, mercury was still found in the dryer at significant concentrations (5,000 ng/m3), according to the State's mercury vapor analyzer. In addition, mercury vapors of lower concentrations were found in other rooms as well as inside the washing machine. The homeowner left for several weeks and then contacted the EPA on October 29th to see if they needed to dispose of their dryer or any other belongings.

On November 4th, EPA arrived at the home to perform an assessment and help dispose of mercury-contaminated materials. A group of three ERRS contractors, two START contractors, and two On-Scene Coordinators arrived at the location at 8:00 a.m. The house was heated to 75–80 degrees before they arrived. Using a mercury vapor analyzer, the team thoroughly swept the entire residence and discovered that most of the rooms had consistently low mercury levels (around 50-100 ng/m3). However, when the team screened two vacuums used to clean the laundry area, they discovered extremely high amounts (up to 12,000 ng/m3). Elevated levels were also discovered in the dryer (7,000 ng/m3) and in a bag of linens (6,000 ng/m3) that the homeowner had placed in a laundry basket following the incident.

The dryer and the two vacuums were taken from the property by the EPA crew. The linen bag was transported outside and encouraged to volatilize in the sun. The linens were later separated, packed, and re-tested with the mercury vapor analyzer. Due to exceptionally high levels of mercury vapors (more than 50,000ng/m3), several of the linens—including a pair of shorts with a broken thermometer—were thrown away. As a precaution, it was advised that the homeowner keep the other linens with lesser levels outside in the sun to promote volatilization.

After the dryer was taken out, the laundry area was cleaned using a mercury vacuum. The floor was then cleaned using a mercury decontamination product. Despite having relatively low amounts of mercury (approximately 400ng/m3), the washer was treated with a mercury cleaning solution out of precaution.

A guesthouse rented by a family with young children who frequent the main residence, as well as a pool house behind the main house, were both screened and found to be free of mercury contamination. Finally, the homeowner's and guesthouse tenant's cars were screened for mercury. Two vehicles tested negative for mercury; however, some vapors were identified in a truck driven by a resident of the main residence (850 ng/m3). To volatilize any leftover vapors, the EPA advised heating and venting the vehicle in the coming weeks.

The EPA team demobilized from the site the evening of November 4th. Solid waste was taken off-site to a staging area where it awaits final disposal.