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Ithaca area evacuated after chemicals found

By ASSOCIATED PRESS   Saturday, September 27, 2008 - 2:18 p.m.
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TOWN OF ITHACA -- Emergency crews evacuated a three-mile area of Richland County so they could dispose of flammable and explosive chemicals stored on a late chemist's property.

Authorities say relatives were cleaning the chemist's property for sale when they found containers of picric acid and ethyl ether used in his research lab.

Picric acid is as explosive as dynamite but used for staining microscope specimens and other lab work. Ethyl ether is used as a laboratory solvent.

The chemicals were detonated, and neighbors returned about 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Richland County Emergency Management says cleanup continues on the property, but all hazardous materials have been removed.

The agency says the lab was properly equipped for the chemicals and nothing illegal was found on the site.




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