Authorities at Aberdeen Proving Ground responded to an accidental release of a harmful mustard agent at Edgewood Friday morning that left one worker hospitalized and two others under observation.
At approximately 11:30 a.m., a laboratory vial containing two microliters of diluted mustard agent ? a chemical weapon that can cause blistering of the skin along with tissue and organ damage ? was broken at the Edgewood Chemical-Biological Center laboratory, base spokesman George Mercer said.
A microliter is one-millionth of a liter.
“We?re not sure how it broke, but it broke,” Mercer said. “Fortunately, everybody did exactly what they?re supposed to do in this kind of situation.”
The worker handling the vial was exposed to the diluted mustard agent, but immediately used a decontamination shower in the laboratory and was soon moved to the Edgewood area?s clinic for further treatment and observation.
With minor exposures, water is usually enough for decontamination, but more severe cases can require the use of bleach. Mercer did not know the severity of the worker?s exposure.
Two other workers in the area were not exposed to the mustard agent but were observed for several hours at the clinic and released Friday afternoon.
The entire base was briefly closed off according to standard procedure for responding to emergencies. The gates were reopened before noon.
Ventilation and air control systems contained the mustard gas within the lab and filtered it from the air, preventing it from being released into the environment, Mercer said.
