Fumes wafted through air vents

Mother Nature caused formaldehyde gas to circulate through Baffin Regional Hospital on Nov. 2, Nunavut Health Minister Ed Picco said this week.

The gas wafted into the 30-year old hospital through an open return-air vent instead of exiting via a top-floor chimney.

Wind and cold weather caused the vent to remain open.

Ten patients were evacuated and emergency services were offered at public health. Neither patients nor staff were seriously affected by the leak.

The hospital reopened the next day at 6 p.m.

The accidental release followed a routine disinfection of the ground-floor lab.