Harvard says 6 researchers drank poisoned coffee

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Six Harvard University medical researchers who became sick in August after drinking coffee were poisoned, according to university officials.

In a memo released Friday, the school says the victims all drank from a coffee machine on Aug. 26 that later tested positive for sodium azide, a common preservative used in labs.

The memo, written by Daniel G. Ennis, executive dean for administration, and Richard M. Shea, associate dean for physical planning and facilities, does not say whether officials believe the poisoning was intentional.

"We are in the process of installing additional security cameras throughout our buildings, and we are strengthening the security systems that manage access to the laboratories during both normal business hours and off hours," the memo states.

The six reported symptoms ranged from dizziness to ear ringing, and one passed out. They were treated at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and later released.

The researchers, which include staff and students, all work in the Harvard Medical School's pathology department in its new Boston research building. They were using mice to investigate how diseases interact with the immune system.

Harvard spokesman David Cameron said no student or employee has been disciplined. The Suffolk District Attorney's Office said it was not aware of the incident, and the Boston Police Department was not investigating.

According to the memo, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration as well as the Boston Public Health Commission are conducting an investigation.

Letter
TO: HMS Academic and Administrative Leadership

As you may be aware, we have been investigating an incident that occurred on August 26, 2009 , when six members of our community were seen in the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center emergency room after drinking coffee from the same single serve, manual-fill coffee machine located in an open common area on the eighth floor of the HMS New Research Building (NRB). All reported similar symptoms. Five employees were treated and released that day; one was held overnight and released the next morning.

Since late August, an HMS leadership team has been working closely with Harvard University Police Department and a team of health and safety experts on an extensive investigation of the incident. We also are in contact with the Boston Public Health Commission and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

While we do not yet know how this incident occurred, we have recently learned that sodium azide, a preservative commonly used in laboratories, was present in the coffee consumed by the six employees. As the investigation continues, we are being prudent and taking additional precautionary measures to ensure the well being of our community.

As always, we are mindful of the need to be diligent about laboratory safety and security and the importance of proper management of laboratory chemicals. Last year we convened a task force to make recommendations that will further promote the security and safety of laboratories throughout HMS, and we are now in the process of implementing a number of these recommendations, which include the following:

* Safety professionals will be meeting with laboratory representatives to discuss ways to enhance the best practices already in place throughout HMS for chemical usage and management.

* We are in the process of installing additional security cameras throughout our buildings, and we are strengthening the security systems that manage access to the laboratories during both normal business hours and off hours.

HMS leadership is committed to doing everything possible to understand what may have occurred, and we will notify you at the conclusion of the ongoing investigation. In the interim, if you have any questions or information, please contact Rick Shea at Richard_Shea@hms.harvard.edu . We ask that you share this information with your team and students as you feel appropriate, either by meeting with them or forwarding this email.

Sincerely,

Daniel G. Ennis
Executive Dean for Administration

Richard M. Shea
Associate Dean for Physical Planning and Facilities