A toxic scare at a school in Colorado that saw dozens
of students having to be decontaminated and several taken to hospital
with skin and eye irritation, may have been caused by one of the world's
hottest chillies...
An investigation into the incident, which led Jefferson County Open School to be evacuated, found pieces of habanero peppers in the playground.
The chilli is so hot people handling them wear gloves.
In a statement, Melissa Reeves for Jefferson County Public Schools, said: "In searching the playground area, employees found pieces of approximately six habanero peppers scattered in the wood chips.
"Coming in contact with the pepper oil would cause many of the symptoms that students experienced.
"District teams are in the process of washing the playground equipment and wiping down surfaces inside to ensure that the school is free of any residual pepper oil.
"The wood chips in the area where the peppers were found are being replaced."
It is not known how the peppers got onto the playground.
Around 30 students and a teachers' assistant had to be washed down by firefighters on Monday, after children started complaining of burning eyes and skin irritation.
