Workers Exposed to Acid in D.C. School

Two contractors were hospitalized this morning after being exposed to a chemical vapor cloud in a public school in Southeast Washington this morning, authorities said.

The two men were exposed about 9 a.m. as they were moving a locker containing cleaning supplies and other chemicals out of a second-floor classroom at Sousa Middle School in the 3600 block of Ely Place SE. Fire officials said there were several gallon-sized containers of chemicals, including one of muriatic acid. That acid, which is used to clean bricks, either reacted to the metal locker or other chemicals in the locker. It then created a vapor cloud, said Alan Etter, a spokesman for the D.C. Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services.

Firefighters decontaminated the contractors, who were complaining of burning eyes and throat irritation, at the scene and took them to Providence Hospital for further observation, Etter said. D.C. police and school officials are investigating whether the chemicals should have been inside the school.