A security officer stands by while LNA Karen Johnson works with mental health patients in a make-shift care area in a Concord Hospital Emergency Room hallway Thursday. In recent months and especially for the last two weeks, the hospital has experienced a backlog of patients waiting to be admitted to New Hampshire State Hospital. In the meantime, other, medical patients are experiencing longer wait times.
A security officer stands by while LNA Karen Johnson works with mental health patients in a make-shift care area in a Concord Hospital Emergency Room hallway Thursday. In recent months and especially for the last two weeks, the hospital has experienced a backlog of patients waiting to be admitted to New Hampshire State Hospital. In the meantime, other, medical patients are experiencing longer wait times.

Authorities say 13 people from a New Hampshire company were taken to hospitals and more than 50 others were evacuated after being exposed to a chemical.

The incident at Fluid Air, a subsidiary of Spraying Systems Co., in Merrimack, happened Tuesday after workers were exposed to sodium selenite, causing some to become sick, Merrimack Fire Department Capt. John Manuele said. The chemical is used in manufacturing, but the circumstances that led to the exposure weren’t immediately known.

He said 13 people were taken to Nashua hospitals after complaining of nausea or shortness of breath. Another 53 people were evacuated and assessed for exposure.

The company said that the 13 employees were released within an hour. The building has been deemed safe by the fire department and the facility reopened Wednesday.