Georgia Tech building reopens after chemical spill

By Kristi E. Swartz and Marcus K. Garner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A building on the Georgia Tech campus reopened Friday morning after a chemical spill sent three graduate students to a hospital Thursday night. A Tech spokesperson said the building reopened at 7 a.m.

The students, who were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital Thursday night for observation, have been released, Tech spokesman Matt Nagel said Friday morning.

The students likely were prepping for a Friday morning lab, Nagel said.

"Initial reports indicate that in preparation for a lab session today, two incompatible chemicals were inadvertently mixed in a container producing a strong irritant," Nagel said in a statement.

Nagel did not confirm what chemicals were mixed. Police told WAGA-TV the chemicals involved were nitric acid and potassium cyanide.

Crews were called to 801 Atlantic Drive around 7:10 p.m. after the spill of reportedly corrosive chemicals, officials said.

A HAZ-MAT team was able to neutralize the spill of the dangerous chemical sometime after 9 p.m., Atlanta Fire spokesman Capt. Bill May said.

The building, which houses part of the College of Computing and several science and engineering labs, was evacuated with no reported injuries, May said.

Along with the Atlanta Fire and Rescue HAZ-MAT team, Georgia Tech police and the school's environmental health and safety units helped with the incident, Nagel said.

"The container was placed in a controlled environment," and safety procedures were followed, Nagel said Friday. The school's environmental health and safety units are going to review the safety procedure with lab personnel, however, Nagel said.

It is unclear how the spill happened, but the HAZ-MAT team will be investigating, May said.