The mysterious white powder found in the Pine County Courthouse on Tuesday didn't consist of "bioterrorism organisms," the Minnesota Department of Health said Friday.
The substance was found in six envelopes in various county departments about
1:30 p.m., and the building was evacuated about 1:45 p.m. The incident interrupted the first day of the assault trial of former Duluth police officer Richard Jouppi. The trial was not resumed until Wednesday.
In a news release, the health department said it was releasing a statement "to dispel rumors and help those involved understand the situation and any protective actions they may want to take."
After an initial screening ruled out bioterrorism, the health department conducted additional tests, the statement said. It discovered the presence of one of two kinds of Bacillus bacteria.
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Both bacteria occur naturally in the environment and are often found in the soil and on plants, the statement said.
"Neither is considered a significant health risk based on the facts of this situation," it went on.
One of the two, Bacillus thuringiensis, has produced no adverse health effects. The other, Bacillus cereus, can produce symptoms when food is contaminated. It also can cause additional irritation for someone who has had a recent eye injury, according to the statement.
The health department still is trying to determine which form of Bacillus was in the envelopes, it said.
In spite of the minimal risk, people who were in the Pine County Courthouse on Tuesday were advised to contact their doctor if they experienced unusual health symptoms, and to reduce potential exposure by washing their clothes and showering, the statement said.
Final test results are expected to be available in two weeks, it said.
The news release that accompanied the statement said the health department couldn't offer additional information because of the ongoing criminal investigation into the source of the substance.
That investigation is being handled by the Pine County Sheriff's Office, state and federal agencies. The sheriff's office said Friday that it also would not be releasing additional information because the investigation remains active.
