Nine Hospitalized From Boeing Fumes

Nine people were taken to a hospital Tuesday after irritating sulfuric acid fumes blew through the second floor of a Boeing Co. building.

“Their symptoms were wheezing, shortness of breath, headache, some light-headedness, some sore throats,” said spokesman Larry Zalin of Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

All were reported in satisfactory condition Tuesday night. Five stayed overnight for observation at Harborview, one was transferred to Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup and three were released, Zalin said.

The incident began when Boeing technicians reported a natural gas odor Tuesday morning in Building 18-61 of the Boeing Space Center, the Kent Fire Department said.

About 200 people were evacuated from the building for several hours but returned to work by noon.

The fire department said no system malfunctions were found. Normal lab testing involves chemicals that could have caused the symptoms.