Chemical contamination to blame for Health Sciences lab closure

Eastern Health says it was forced to close part of the pathology lab at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John's Wednesday due to chemical contamination.

Air quality testing in a part of the lab revealed an amount of formalin, a formaldehyde mixture used to preserve specimens, in the air that exceeded acceptable limits.

Employees were temporarily relocated to work in another area, while the levels were addressed.

According to Eastern Health, the source of the contamination was a wooden bench that had absorbed the chemical.

The bench has since been removed from the lab.

The health authority said there was no immediate concern for employees.

Eastern Health said the disruption did not affect laboratory services.