Canadian military concerned over peridite

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, May 20 (UPI) -- Canadian military officials had expressed concerns over peridite, a substance used in a submarine that caught fire last year killing one officer.

Lt. Chris Saunders was killed and eight others suffered from smoke inhalation after the HMCS Chicoutimi caught fire.

Peridite, used in a glue that holds insulation to walls, is believed to be a carcinogen. A safety officer wrote in 2001 about potential problems with peridite when there was work done on Chicoutimi's sister sub, Victoria, according to documents obtained through Access to Information, the Canadian Broadcast Corp. reported Friday.

Later, the navy issued a notice to workers entitled "Precautions When Working with Peridite," which pointed out the dangers of peridite at high temperatures.

Doctors have been monitoring those who survived the Chicoutimi fire. The results are confidential but it been reported that four sailors show signs of contamination that could lead to respiratory problems, the CBC said.