2 Taken To Hospital After Acid Spill In Waltham: Fire

WALTHAM, MA — Two people were taken to the hospital after acid spilled in a lab in Waltham, according to officials. Waltham fire and the state hazmat team were called in to help with the spill at a bio pharmaceutical on Gatehouse Drive.

Just before 10 a.m. someone called 911 to report someone in the lab needed medical attention, it then was revealed there was an acid spill at AstraZeneca, a research bio pharmaceutical company at 35 Gatehouse Drive, according to Waltham Fire officials. At least one person's hand may have been exposed to the acid, fire officials said.

"AstraZeneca can confirm that there was a small spill inside one of the labs occupied by a tenant at the BioHub site in Waltham. This incident did not involve an AstraZeneca lab or AstraZeneca employees. We can confirm the incident is contained, there was no release to the environment and we are working with authorities to have the affected area cleaned in line with protocol," according to a statement from an AstraZeneca spokesperson.

A spokeswoman for the state department of fire services described the spill, which was originally called in as a tier-1 level hazmat as "small."

But nearly two dozen hazmat members were called in from the state and a number of Waltham fire units, including the deputy chief and a couple of engines and medical vehicles raced to the scene.

"They transported two people for a hydrofluoric acid exposure in liquid form," said Lt. Scott Perry of the Waltham Fire Department, who said because of the exposure the level-1 hazmat response was bumped up to a level-2, which brings the state.

He described the injuries as minor.

Crews were on the scene until just before 2 p.m.