LATEST NEWS
Thursday,
October 21, 2004
Depot guards exposed
By AMYJO BROWN
of the East Oregonian
ajbrown@eastoregonian.com
HERMISTON — Two security
guards are on sick leave following exposure to an unknown, potentially toxic
chemical while on patrol Friday night at the Umatilla Chemical Depot.
Depot officials confirmed Thursday that the guards were checking
a filter on a storage igloo containing sarin-filled weapons when they suddenly
had a metallic taste in their mouths.
One guard said there was a rotten egg smell, and one guard had a
runny nose, according to Jim Hackett, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army at
the Depot.
“Nothing’s been confirmed yet as to what they were exposed to,” Hackett
said. “We’re investigating for possible exposure to chemical agent.”
Only one of the symptoms, the runny nose, indicated nerve agent exposure,
Hackett said.
The guards went to the depot’s medical clinic and had blood drawn
Saturday morning. The results indicated they were exposed to something, Hackett
said. Results from a second blood draw released Monday indicated no exposure.
A urinalysis sample was taken Tuesday and sent to a lab in Aberdeen,
Md., for testing.
The Army is waiting for those test results, which could take up to
a week to be returned, Hackett said.
The guards’ clothing was checked for chemical agent and no contaminants
were found, Hackett said. The guards were not given an antidote for chemical
agent exposure.
Local emergency responders met Wednesday with Depot Commander Lt.
Col. David Holliday to discuss the incident. They were concerned that it
took several days before the Depot notified them Tuesday of a potential problem,
said both Casey Beard, director of Morrow County’s Emergency Management and
Meg Capps, director of Umatilla County’s Emergency Management.
Both said they think the issues have been resolved.
An incident involving unknown toxins also occurred in 1999, while
the weapons disposal facility was under construction. Dozens of workers then
were exposed to an unidentified toxic chemical.