In April 1994, the pediatric department at Senlis Hospital (Oise) alerted the regional health inspectorate (D.R.A.S.S. of Picardy) regarding two cases of chronic mercury poisoning. Once the alert was issued, an investigation was launched to identify the population affected by the poisoning and determine its causes. The results showed that this was a case of family poisoning most likely resulting from the breakage of an object containing mercury, which caused the metal to be dispersed by a vacuum cleaner and contaminated the entire home.