PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Hazardous materials crews responded to Brown University after workers in a school building reported a strong chemical odor and several people felt sick.
Fire officials responded to the Graduate Center at about 4 p.m. Thursday after someone reported a chemical type odor coming from an envelope.
They say several people complained of respiratory, throat and eye irritation.
Nine people were decontaminated at the scene and were taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Hazmat crews found no sign of contamination.
A Brown spokesman says initial reports of a white powder at the scene appear to be unfounded. A section of the building was evacuated as a precaution but reopened at about 7 p.m.
The envelope was secured and will be tested.
U.S. Postal inspectors are helping the investigation.