Woman who died at lab ID’d

Ge Guo, 26, was an employee at Frontage Laboratories Inc.

UWCHLAN » Officials released the identity of the deceased lab employee who was found unresponsive nearby a hazardous material.

The Uwchlan Township Police Department, the Lionville Fire Company and the Lionville Ambulance Corps were called to the scene of a reported death at Frontage Laboratories Inc. on Tuesday afternoon. The decedent was identified by the Chester County Coroner’s Office on Friday as Exton resident Ge Guo, 26, who worked at the facility.

The Chester County Hazardous Materials Unit was called in when it was learned that the death

might be associated with exposure to an unknown amount of potassium cyanide, a material to which the decedent had access in the course of her work, according to county officials.

The Chester County Coroner’s Office announced the following: potassium cyanide is a solid material but releases hydrogen cyanide gas which interferes with oxygen use in the body. Organs most susceptible to

lack of oxygen are the brain and the heart. Ingestion or inhalation can cause systemic toxicity and severe exposure can be rapidly fatal.

There were no reports of illness or injury to any other employees at the site, according to county officials. OSHA was notified and is in contact with Frontage Laboratories. The family also has been notified.

“This tragic and dangerous situation illustrates the importance of training for the unexpected. Chester County is fortunate to have dedicated and highlytrained first responders,”

Chester County Coroner Dr. Christina VandePol said. “Our Deputy Coroners often work in difficult and hazardous situations and we depend on teams like those in Uwchlan (on Tuesday) to keep us safe as we do our investigations.”

VandePol thanked the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office which granted them permission to transport the body to an isolation

unit at their Lancaster County Forensic Center. She explained that Chester County does not have a dedicated morgue or autopsy facility and “it would not be prudent to use a local hospital morgue while we are unsure of the potential risk.”

The cause and manner of death are currently under investigation by the Coroner’s Office.

SUBMITTED PHOTO The Chester County Hazardous Materials Unit was called in on Tuesday when it was learned that the reported death at Frontage Laboratories might be associated with exposure to potassium cyanide.