23 Injured in Toxic Leak at Medical Lab

A leak of toxic liquid at a North Hollywood medical laboratory injured 23 people Monday and forced the evacuation of 200 employees, authorities said.

Several dozen firefighters, a hazardous-materials team and three ambulances were dispatched to the Kaiser Permanente medical laboratory in the 10000 block of Magnolia Boulevard about 10:20 a.m. after employees reported the leak, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Greg Acevedo.

Sixteen people were treated at the scene for headaches, burning eyes, sore throats and nausea, Acevedo said.

Seven others were taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank and Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys for treatment and were later released, hospital spokeswomen said.

It was discovered that Freon, a clear, nonflammable liquid used in refrigeration and air-conditioning units--had leaked from a freezer inside a storage room at the lab, Acevedo said.

Freon contains a series of fluorocarbon compounds that, if inhaled in large amounts, can be fatal, said Dr. Mark Bayer of the Los Angeles County Regional Poison Control Center.

The leak was contained to the storage room and employees were allowed back inside the building shortly after noon, said Kaiser spokesman Allan Mann.