(Newswire.net — March 18, 2015) — Washington, DC., – White House officials said a suspicious letter that arrived Monday at the White House mail screening facility has tested positive for cyanide. Another test will be conducted to confirm the results, the US Secret Service representative said.
“On Monday 3/16/15, an envelope was received at the White House Mail Screening Facility. Initial Biological testing was negative; however, on 03/17/15, the chemical testing returned a presumptive positive for cyanide,” Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary said in a statement.
“The sample was transported to another facility to confirm the results,” he added.
The cyanide is extremely toxic to humans, however, it is a used in a number of industries, the US Environmental Protection Agency said.
“Chronic (long-term) inhalation exposure of humans to cyanide results primarily in effects on the central nervous system (CNS),” the EPA warns, adding that other effects include cardiovascular and respiratory, as well as an enlarged thyroid gland, and irritation to the eyes and skin.
The envelope containing cyanide listed the return address of a person who has a record with the Secret Service dating back to 1995, according to The Intercept, which broke the story.
Reportedly, the same person has previously sent packages covered in urine and feces. According to the report, the last package received from this individual in June, 2012, contained mini alcoholic beverages.
The cyanide incident which is now being investigated follows a number of security lapses on behalf of the secret service at the White House.
Five agency managers were removed from their positions in January as a result of a series of security breaches that have raised questions about safety at the White House.
The Secret service agency is ‘starving for leadership’ and it’s ‘stretched beyond its limits’, read a critical report released in December.