Camphor Rodent Repellent Puts 4 TSA Workers in Hospital

Over a dozen TSA employees at Boston's Logan Airport were evacuated from a baggage room after a rodent repellent in a passenger's bag caused a noxious odor.

Four of the 15 TSA workers were sent to the Massachusetts General Hospital as a precaution after the event, which occurred at around 8:20 a.m. EST Monday morning, according to airport operator Massport. They reportedly complained of eye and throat problems as well as severe headaches.

Three of the employees were released Monday afternoon.

No passengers were harmed in the incident, which occurred at Logan's Terminal A, home to Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.

A Massport spokesman said TSA workers opened a bag headed onto a New Jersey-bound Continental flight when an odor emitting from the luggage made them sick. The workers then evacuated the room and it was declared a hazmat scene. The Massport Fire Department along with other medical responders arrived and declared the air quality fine. Meanwhile, state police tracked the bag's owner and learned that the mysterious odor came from camphor rodent repellent.

Camphor is a waxy, white, or transparent solid found in certain evergreens with a strong aromatic odor. It is often used as a natural insect and rodent repellent.

The bag room reopened around 10:10 a.m. and only one flight was delayed due to the ordeal.

TSA said the bag's owners, who were en route to Beijing, put the common household chemical into their bags to ward off mice. They were questioned, but not charged and were re-booked on a later flight.

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