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Formaldehyde thrown in Lincoln High stairwell

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Friday, May 09, 2008 - 10:31:03 am CDT

Someone threw a glass filled with formaldehyde in a south stairwell at Lincoln High School, causing part of the school to be evacuated late Thursday morning.

Officer Katie Flood said it happened shortly before 11 a.m. Three or four staff members went to a health facility to be checked out after they came in contact with the chemical, which is often associated with biology class dissections.

Contact with formaldehyde can be severely irritating to the eyes and can cause coughing, nausea and shortness of breath, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Flood said the south end of the school was evacuated. Police planned to interview more students to determine what happened.


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Anya wrote on May 9, 2008 10:42 am:
" Oh, big deal! Formaldehyde is also used in plastic products so when you nuke your food in them, you are getting a dose of it anyway. "

Hang on... wrote on May 9, 2008 11:29 am:
" I thought formaldehyde went out of usage years ago and that we're now using formalin. Can anyone even remotely scientific confirm this? "

It Is wrote on May 9, 2008 11:43 am:
" It's a "big deal", because trace amounts are very different from high concentrations. "

whatta joke wrote on May 9, 2008 1:48 pm:
" "Hang On", Formalin and Formaldehyde are essentially the same thing. Formalin is a mixture of formaldehyde at a lower concentration mixed with methanol and water. It is not as harmful because of the lower concentration of formaldehyde but can still be used to preserve tissues. And I agree with everyone else. This is a joke, I come in contact with it everyday and don't have irritated eyes or any of that garbage. This was probably formalin because pure formaldehyde is rarely in use.The city of lincoln just needed something else to talk about! But at least there were no major roadways shut down for this insignificant spill!!!!! "

JB wrote on May 9, 2008 1:55 pm:
" Sounds like something that would happen at Lincoln High. "

Anya wrote on May 9, 2008 4:33 pm:
" And we should be happy no one was "held prisoner" like they were at the S.O.B. when the mercury was spilled! "

lhs student wrote on May 9, 2008 4:53 pm:
" it's really not as bad as everyone was making it out to be. it happened during the seniors honor convocation, and the whole school was evacuated 4-the beginning of 6th. it's fine! and kinda funny! "

wow wrote on May 9, 2008 8:05 pm:
" It is kinda a big deal..there was a staff memeber who stepped in it and minutes later she was throwing up. They didnt want the students to be exposed to it. Also, the daycare is located in south building and they didnt want the babies exposed to it. "

what wrote on May 10, 2008 7:43 am:
" Daycare - do all of the Lincoln High Schools have an on sight daycare - I had no idea? "