A worker at the Postal Service's Bulk Mail Center in Sharonville underwent decontamination Monday after a white powdery substance fell from the sack he was emptying into a hamper about 9 a.m.

        Inspection service officials isolated the sack and the hamper, although they suspect the dust was chalk and not a dangerous substance.

        The employee, who wasn't identified, was taken to Bethesda North and University hospitals, where he took several showers. He then went home, took his clothes off, put them inside a plastic bag and took another shower. He will not return to work until Thursday because he has today and Wednesday off, spokeswoman Bonnie Manies said.

        “His clothes were isolated for testing,” Ms. Manies said. “(The police) really thought it was chalk because they use chalk to mark on the sacks. However, we will always err on the side of caution.”

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