POST FALLS, Idaho (AP) — A Catholic school and church and school in Post Falls have closed so a hazmat team can clean up mercury that was spilled in the school's science lab.

The Coeur d'Alene Press reports (http://bit.ly/1IaDP3f ) that a student at the Immaculate Conception St. Dominic school decided to play with mercury on Monday when containers of the hazardous substance were removed from a storage locker that was being cleaned.

Kootenai Fire and Rescue EMS Chief Steve Isaacson says a sophomore student decided to see what mercury looked like in his palm and two other students also thought that was a good idea. Hazmat officials found mercury was tracked all over the school.

Isaacson says prolonged mercury exposure can have neurotoxic effects, especially in young children.

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