Harvard: Lab workers poisoned by tainted coffee

Somewhere along the line, all the bldg water supply plumbing connects to the domestic (public, potable) water supply coming in from the purveying utility. Lines designated as ‘non-potable’ for lab use need an appropriate BFPA at the connection to the potable system. which could be as simple as an air gap.

Or it could be someone injected this stuff on the intake line feeding the coffee machine...

Adding just a mite from Wikipedia: Sodium azide is often compared with cyanide, as poisoned individuals suffer from the same symptoms. Exposure to sodium azide has some or all of the following symptoms within minutes: rapid breathing, restlessness, dizziness, weakness, headache, nausea and vomiting, rapid heart rate, red eyes (gas or dust exposure), clear drainage from the nose (gas or dust exposure), cough (gas or dust exposure), skin burns and blisters (explosion or direct skin contact). Exposure to a large amount of sodium azide may cause these other health effects as well: convulsions, low blood pressure, low heart rate, loss of consciousness, and lung injury, respiratory failure leading to death.

Looks to me like some whacked out “animal rights” activist.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jVABXtFXWReqUgbmnqa2mkpb5eqAD9BI8V9O0

The researchers all work in Harvard Medical School’s pathology department, using mice to investigate how diseases interact with the immune system.

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20091027harvard_finds_toxic_java_jolting_profs_students_drink_with_caution/

“Harvard finds toxic java jolting
Profs, students drink with caution”

By Adam Smith
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 - Updated 6h ago

SNIPPET: “The apparent effort to poison Harvard Medical School researchers has spooked faculty and students, who say they are now avoiding the school’s coffee machines.

“I’m drinking coffee right now, but it’s from an outside vendor,” said Matteo Iannacone, an immunology researcher who learned last Friday that the mysterious illness he suffered two months ago was caused by sodium azide, a toxin someone apparently put in his department’s coffee machine. He was one of six pathology researchers sent to the emergency room Aug. 26.”

SNIPPET: “But some experts questioned the time lapse. Harvard police, who are handling the case, failed to list the incident on an online police log, though Boston police say Harvard cops responded on Aug. 26 to the incident. Harvard police declined to comment yesterday.

“I’m almost certain that they knew within 48 hours,” clinical toxicology consultant David Benjamin said, saying detection should not have taken so long.”

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.