Hygienic lab says powder mailed to Iowa residence hall is harmless

Testing by the State Hygienic Lab has revealed that a strange powder that was mailed to Stanley Residence Hall on the University of Iowa campus on Monday did not contain harmful substances.

A release from the university said that the lab, in Coralville, conducted a standard set of tests to determine whether the powder posed a chemical threat. The substance has since been sent to a lab in Ankeny for further verification that the powder poses no threat to the public.

The results comes after first responders were called to the residence hall just before noon Monday for a report that a woman had opened a piece of mail containing a powdery substance, and began to feel sick.

A UI release said an envelope was received via U.S. Mail at the residence hall on Monday morning, and a counselor with the university's Upward Bound program opened the package to find a powdery substance.

The release said the counselor later began to feel ill, and called UI police, who sealed off a shower, the student's room, and mail areas as a precaution.

UI Police Lt. Joe Lang said Monday that the female counselor who came in contact with the powder was taken to the hospital for treatment. When exiting the building, he was carrying the substance in a red bag. He said the substance would be taken to the State Hygienic Lab for testing.

The release said the university is working to notify roughly 47 students and staff associated with the Upward Bound program of the incident, and parents with questions should contact the university.

The university also said the counselor was released from the hospital Monday afternoon.