Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services received a report last night of a release of a minor quantity of what is suspected to be mercury, at a residence in Malak.

No immediate threat to the public was identified, and the property was locked down ahead of operations this morning by personnel from the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service, who entered the house to identify the material and the amount involved.

An initial clean-up of material was conducted by NTFRS, and a sample was taken for testing.

The material has been secured within the property, which is expected to remain empty while specialist crews neutralise the site.

The residents of the property presented to Royal Darwin Hospital last night and were released this afternoon.

Investigations are continuing into the cause of the incident.