Miami airport concourse closed, people sickened Nature of substance involved is unclear August 21, 2002 Posted: 11:43 AM EDT MIAMI (CNN) -- A hazardous materials team at Miami International Airport is trying to find out what caused dozens of people to complain of respiratory problems near a security checkpoint inside the airport. At least 36 people were being treated at the scene for scratchy throats, sneezing and watery eyes, Miami-Dade fire officials said. "It could be a whole host of household chemicals that could have combined," said Miami-Dade Fire Chief Louie Fernandez. Fernandez said officials cleared the airport's international Concourse B. Officials believe a chemical substance may have gotten into the ventilation system. It was not clear if the concourse was still shut down. A Miami-Dade police spokesman denied earlier reports that a bag containing a white, powdery substance caused people to become sick. Initially, Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue officials said someone was checking a bag through a security checkpoint that contained a substance that caused everyone in the immediate area to became sick and have trouble breathing.
