Irradiated Mail Causes Illness

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" Ken Smith " <shining

Friday, January 11, 2002 1:01 AM

[CIDSNetwork] Irradiated Mail Causes Illness

 

 

> Friday January 11 12:27 AM ET

>

http://dailynews./htx/ap/20020111/pl/irradiated_mail_illness_1.html

>

> Irradiated Mail Causes Illness

> By CHRISTOPHER NEWTON, Associated Press Writer

>

> WASHINGTON (AP) - A package irradiated as part of the government's

> anti-anthrax screening gave off a noxious gas Thursday when it was opened

at

> the Commerce Department, sickening at least 11 workers, a fire official

> said.

>

> The workers complained of nausea, breathing problems and throat

irritation,

> and two were admitted to a hospital in undetermined condition, D.C. Fire

> Department spokesman Alan Etter said.

>

> The FBI and hazardous-materials workers were dispatched to the scene and

> blocked off 14th Street in front of the Commerce Department during the

> evening rush hour. The building is situated at 14th and Constitution

Avenue,

> a block from the Ellipse.

>

> Etter said a package of copy paper tightly wrapped in plastic gave off a

> noxious gas when it was opened. He said health officials believe the

> irradiation process can cause paper to give off hydrocarbons that are

> harmful when concentrated. Gas was held inside the package at the Commerce

> Department because it was tightly wrapped, Etter said.

>

> Two women who work on the fifth floor of the building called 911 at about

> 3:45 p.m., after they began to have trouble breathing. The women, who were

> not identified, were taken to the hospital.

>

> As an investigation was under way, other workers began to call emergency

> officials to report that they had some of the same symptoms.

>

> Etter said irradiated mail has made people sick at least five times in

> Washington over the past several weeks.

>

> ``People respond differently to this based on their current health

> condition,'' he said. ``We don't know how serious it can get.''

>

> Thursday's incident was the first indication that the screening for

anthrax

> spores or other biological agents in mail could cause health problems.

> Postal officials have said only that the process could damage such

> perishables as film and medication.

>

> Officials have been irradiating mail to all federal buildings in the

> aftermath of the anthrax scare in which two letters tainted with the

> bacteria were sent to Capitol Hill.

>

> Etter said Commerce officials would have to decide whether to allow

workers

> into the room Friday. A department spokeswoman did not return a message

left

> on her answering machine late Thursday night.

>

>