The Boston Fire Department and the Boston University Police Department responded to a report of an unknown substance at the Center for Computing and Data Sciences Tuesday morning.
Police responded to reports of an unknown powder in a basement breakroom of CDS at 7:36 a.m.
BU Facilities workers encountered the dust from a “non-hazardous cleaning product” that was swept up and reported it to their supervisor after experiencing reactions, according to BU Spokesperson Colin Riley.
Police Sgt. John Boyle said some BU Facilities employees suffered headaches and irritations to the nose and mouth area.
Three people were evaluated by Boston Emergency Medical Services and declined further treatment.
Brian Alkins, a spokesman for the Boston Fire Department, said the substance was calcium carbonate, a chemical compound found in cleaning products.
Olivia Price, a junior at BU, was in CDS when people were told to evacuate and described the evacuation as “shocking.”
“I didn’t exactly see who was the person to tell us that we had to evacuate, but [someone] turned to me and said, ‘We all have to leave the building,’” Price said. “We were all confused on what to bring, because we just thought it was…a fire alarm.”
Price said people were unable to enter the building while testing took place. She said she knew there was a chemical issue and testing was being done.
Those who evacuated were not allowed in the building until around 9:30 a.m.
