UC Davis firefighters Dave Dean, foreground, and Scott Meyer (wearing orange hazmat suits) are hosed off by Woodland firefighters (in tan suits) as they exit the Chemistry Building after cleaning up a spill in one of the labs Monday. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis photo)

3 p.m. update -- Building reopened

The Chemistry Building has been reopened, although Rooms 129 and 130 are not available for use. On Tuesday, classes will return to their regularly scheduled locations.

12:10 p.m. update -- Class relocations

The following Monday classes have been relocated from the Chemistry Building following a chemical spill in the building this morning.

Courses in Chem 166

• NPB 010, 10 a.m. to 11:50 a.m., to Haring 2016
• MAT 021B, 12:10 p.m. to 1:50 p.m., to Hart 1130
• TXC 173-001, 5:10 p.m. to 7:40 p.m., to Haring 1204

Courses in Chem 176

• MAT 021c, 12:10 p.m. to 1:50 p.m., to Hart 1150
• MAT 016B-003, 4:10 p.m. to 5:50 p.m., to Hart 1150

Courses in Chem 179

• GEL 003, 10 a.m. to 11:40 a.m., to 1227 Haring
• MCB 120L, 12:10 p.m. to 1 p.m., to Wellman 216
• MIC 010, 1:10 p.m. to 2:50 p.m., to Young 198
• ARE 142-001, 3:10 p.m. to 5 p.m., to Young 198

Course in Chem 194

• NPB 101, 11 a.m. to 1:05 p.m., to Young 198

11:35 a.m. update -- Patient conditions

A doctoral chemistry student and chemistry department staff member are both in good condition after being taken to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento following a chemical spill in the Chemistry Building today.

11 a.m. update -- Relocation of classes

The Office of the University Registrar is attempting to relocate the Summer Sessions classes scheduled to meet in four classrooms affected by today's chemical spill in the Chemistry Building and its evacuation.

The office will notify instructors if their classes have been relocated.

10 a.m. -- First report

Because of a chemical spill early this morning (Monday, June 23) in the Chemistry Building, two people were taken to a local hospital for evaluation and the building has been evacuated for several hours and perhaps all day.

No other campus activities have been affected.

UC Davis Fire Department spokesman Paul Pfotenhauer said that at about 7:30 a.m., a graduate student working in chemistry professor Philip Power's lab, Room 130, spilled more than 2 liters of an oily hazardous material named nitrobenzene.

Because nitrobenzene can cause illness if inhaled, absorbed through the skin or ingested, UC Davis emergency personnel sent the student and one other person by ambulance to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.

The student did not show any immediate symptoms of illness; the second person complained of eye irritation.

Pfotenhauer said cleaning up the spill will be a hazardous materials operation, with firefighters from the UC Davis Fire Department as well as other local departments participating. They will be wearing protective clothing and breathing apparatus and using absorbent materials.

Until the cleanup is complete, which could take all day, the Chemistry Building will remain closed.