Officials Identify Contents Of Suspicious Package At Post Office

TAMPA, FL — The contents of a leaking package that sent four postal employees to the hospital Wednesday proved to be a chemical used in the manufacture of various commercial and industrial products.

The Tampa Fire Rescue Hazardous Materials Incident Team was called to the Tampa International Airport Post Office at 3501 Bessie Coleman Blvd. around 8:30 a.m. July 24 when postal workers who were sorting mail began experiencing burning eyes and nausea from a liquid leaking from a package that had arrived at the post office on a Federal Express plane. Nine workers were treated by paramedics, five of which were taken to St. Joseph's Hospital for treatment of exposure to a toxic chemical. All are expected to recover.

More than 50 postal employees and customers were evacuated while the hazmat team checked out the package. According to fire rescue spokesman Jason Penny, the package contained a chemical called tert-Butyl hydroperoxide that was leaking. The box was clearly marked with a label indicating its contents.

The post office reopened Wednesday afternoon.