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News / Northwest

Powdery substance sickens workers at Ore. hospital

The Columbian
Published: October 4, 2011, 5:00pm

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Six employees of a Portland hospital have suffered burns to their skin after opening an envelope containing a powdery substance.

Portland Fire and Rescue spokesman Paul Corah says the substance was being analyzed on-scene Wednesday night by emergency responders.

The ventilation system at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center was shut down while the six people were quarantined and decontaminated.

The six workers — four hospital workers and two members of the security team — came into contact with the substance at about 4:35 p.m. on Wednesday.

Corah says the six suffered burns to their skin and irritation to their eyes, hands and mouth.

Hazardous material crews on scene were trying to analyze the substance. A separate FBI analysis will take 24-48 hours.

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