Cyanide incident sends 19 to hospital

9.08.2008 -  

ATTLEBORO, Mass. (AP/WPRI) - Hazardous Materials Teams in full protective gear converged on an Attleboro business Monday morning after a rapid chemical release.

Fire Captain Keith Jackson says about 200 people evacuated the building, and one worker was taken to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence for treatment of burns.

Jackson says about 29 people were decontaminated at the scene by hazardous materials crews, and 19 were taken to area hospitals as a precaution.

A spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection says employees at Stern-Leach Co. caused the chemical release about 8:30 a.m Monday, when they tried to mix sodium cyanide and hydrogen peroxide solutions under a fume hood.

The company makes gold and silver alloys and the chemical mixture is used to clean jewelry.

The cause of the accident isn't known and the company has been shut down for the day.