be tested for mercury contamination after four pounds of the chemical were discovered in a dormitory room.

Zenji Ingham, 20, son of Bermuda Karate Institute instructors Skipper and Kristina Ingham, is currently living at the Sheraton Inn in Boca Raton with 65 other students until the dormitory is re-opened on January 6.

Mr. Ingham, a Spanish, Japanese and linguistics major in his third year at Florida Atlantic University, said he is "living large'' in a hotel room with a $12 a day dinner allowance.

The mercury, which was found on the second floor of the University's Seminole hall co-ed dormitory on November 26, was believed to have been stolen from a physics lab.

Mercury is used in barometers, thermometers and other scientific gauges. Its vapours can be toxic over a long period of exposure.

The vapours can corrode skin, eyes, nose and throat leading to muscle weakness, headaches, diarrhoea, fevers and a loss of appetite.

Currently, the Florida Police are investigating the matter and a file is being prepared for the state attorney's office.

A decision will be taken at that time whether to charge two students who are believed to have stolen the chemical from a lab and concealing it in their second floor room.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ingham, who is due back in Bermuda on December 21, said he was one of 12 students left in the three storey dorm when the mercury was discovered on the second floor.

The other students went home for the Thanksgiving weekend.

A resident's assistant found the mercury on the second floor but didn't know what it was.

Police were called, the area was cordoned off and the 12 students were evacuated.

Mr. Ingham dressed in a shirt and nylon running pants, went without a change of clothes for three days because he was not allowed to go back to the dormitory.

He was allowed to return for a brief period because his room was on the first floor where contamination levels were lower.

"My keys money, books were all left behind,'' he told The Royal Gazette . "I was planning to complete a 20-paged Spanish essay over the break and I had borrowed more than 20 books from the library.'' Luckily, Mr. Ingham's studies have not suffered as a result of the events although many other students' preparations for finals have been interrupted.

Ms Lynn Laurenti, a university spokeswoman, said an anti contamination team was taking readings from all three floors and there were 18 rooms that showed high levels of mercury.

She said that some of the carpets were being taken up and relaid in many of the rooms.

The university, has paid $54 a day for each of the 45 rooms it is renting from the Sheraton.

Students also have a $12 a day dinner allowance and a $21 daily charge account at the gift shop.