Students return to dorms after sodium cyanide found at Brandeis University

WALTHAM, Mass. — The state's hazmat team was called to Brandeis University for a possible hazmat situation.

The State Fire Marshal's Office says they determined the hazardous material found was sodium cyanide.

Brandeis University tells Boston 25 News the hazardous substance was found on campus in the Foster Student Living Center, commonly known as the Mods. The Mods, which house 117 students, were evacuated.

The students have since been allowed back in their dorms, providing relief to some who dropped their studies to evacuate.

"I have an exam on Monday that I need to study for, and I would've loved to study for today," Victor Bianchi said. "Unfortunately, I cannot do that."

Nearly 180 students were forced to evacuate during the situation.

"The alarm went off, we all evacuated," Bianchi said. "We all got out and I was outside of my mod. I live in the upper mod, so I went down to mod 31, which is the lower mods, and there was just two fire trucks, two ambulances, a bunch of police officers."

The sodium cyanide was removed within four hours, and there is no danger to the community.

The National Institutes of Health says sodium cyanide is highly poisonous and can be deadly if ingested or breathed in. It can also cause serious burns just by touching it.

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Sodium cyanide is corrosive and can release toxic fumes if it comes into contact with water. It is mainly used in industrial processes, most commonly, gold mining.

No one was hospitalized or arrested in the incident, with no sign of any foul play.

Brandeis Police, Waltham Police & Fire also responded. Waltham Police do not anticipate making any arrests in this incident.

Cox Media Group