{"id":7688,"date":"2026-08-30T13:45:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T13:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=7688"},"modified":"2026-08-30T13:45:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T13:45:12","slug":"mit-student-claims-he-synthesized-one-of-the-deadliest-chemicals-known-to-man-sparking-massive-hazmat-response","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=7688","title":{"rendered":"MIT student claims he synthesized one of the deadliest chemicals known to man \u2014 sparking massive hazmat response"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

A student at MIT claimed he synthesized one of the world\u2019s deadliest chemicals last week \u2014 sparking a massive hazmat response and the closure of the lab where he worked.<\/p>\n

Read more Clintons seeking intern with \u2018high level of discretion\u2019 at global foundation<\/a><\/p>\n

The unidentified grad student arrived at a local emergency room, saying he had synthesized dimethyl mercury, a highly toxic compound that can be fatal if exposed to humans in even the smallest amounts, NBC Boston reported.<\/p>\n

The student was not authorized to be working with the compound and it was not part of his research, according to school officials.<\/p>\n

MIT closed off Building 18 where the experiment took place on Wednesday and called in city emergency responders to begin the cleanup.<\/p>\n

Common areas in the student\u2019s residence hall were also professionally cleaned as a precaution, and the student\u2019s room was sealed off.<\/p>\n

Building 18 remained closed through Sunday as testing and investigations continued.<\/p>\n

Read more Colts\u2019 Keenan Allen arrested on multiple DUI charges<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cEmerging information calls into question whether this compound was in fact synthesized,\u201d an MIT spokesperson said on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\u201cWe are also able to disclose, with the student\u2019s permission, that while the student remains under medical supervision, their initial blood test result, which was received today, shows no sign of exposure to mercury,\u201d the spokesperson continued.<\/p>\n

Dimethyl mercury can pose \u201ca serious environmental and health hazard,\u201d according to studies in the EPA\u2019s Health Environmental Research Online database.<\/p>\n

It was previously responsible for the death of Dartmouth College chemistry professor Karen Wetterhahn in 1997 after she got just one to two drops on her hand while wearing gloves.<\/p>\n

Read more Hospice fraud victimizes seniors, but Gavin Newsom\u2019s no help<\/a><\/p>\n

It was also used in the assassination of a German labor union boss in 2012.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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