Several dozen people fell ill and at least eight were taken to hospitals Sunday afternoon after being exposed to an irritating chemical at Southcenter Mall.

The mall was evacuated and closed for the rest of the day as police and fire officials tried to pin down the source of the release. Among the possibilities were a deliberate or accidental discharge of Mace, pepper spray or some other chemical, or a faulty ventilation system, authorities said.

“We don’t have any information at this point where the substance came from,” said Sgt. Doug Partlow of the Tukwila Police Department.

At least 50 people who were in the mall were treated for minor respiratory ailments at the scene.

Six people were taken to Valley Medical Center in Renton. They suffered minor respiratory problems, but no one has been admitted, nursing supervisor Sue Atkins said.

Two people were treated and released at Auburn Regional Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said.

Shoppers and employees all described similar symptoms.

“It was just the air made your nose burn and your throat, and it caused lightheadedness and headaches,” mall employee Terri Fisher told KIRO-TV.

Security police began evacuating shoppers from The Bon Marche department store in the mall’s east wing about 2:30 p.m. They later evacuated the entire mall.

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