Accident at Mercer lab causes explosion, hospital trip

An accident in a Mercer University science laboratory caused a small explosion but no serious injuries late Tuesday afternoon.

One person underwent chemical decontamination procedures and was taken to a hospital as a precaution after the incident in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences building off Chamblee-Tucker Road and I-85, said DeKalb County fire Capt. Eric Jackson.

One other person in the laboratory was unharmed, he said.

“It appears there was some cleaning that was going on utilizing some hydrochloric acid and somewhere in the midst of that there was a reaction that resulted in a small explosion with no fire,” Jackson said.

The building was evacuated while authorities checked for any other contamination.

— David Simpson