'Unknown Material' Contained At Argonne: Spokesman

LEMONT, IL — A small spill of an unknown material was contained to the facility Friday morning at Argonne National Laboratory's Lemont facility on Cass Avenue, a spokesman told Patch.

Employees discovered "a small amount of an unknown material" of about 100 milliliters — around 3 ounces — or less on the floor in a room that stores hazardous materials, according to Christopher J. Kramer, head of global media relations for Argonne.

He said the material was completely contained in the facility, which is designed to safely store hazardous materials. Argonne's response groups were working to identify and clean the substance.

Argonne Fire Department responded, and other area fire departments were called in "out of an abundance of caution," Kramer said.

"There is no risk to anyone either at Argonne or the public," he told Patch.