RUMFORD – Two NewPage Corp. employees were taken to Rumford Hospital early Tuesday afternoon following release of a chlorine dioxide solution into the air.

Nearly 50 workers were evacuated from the mill area while the problem was corrected.

The two employees, who were not named by mill spokesman Tony Lyons, had been working in the valve shop downstairs from where the gas release originated. One was examined and released. The second was being held overnight for observation.

Med-Care Ambulance Service took one employee, a mill van the other.

Med-Care Director Dean Milligan said a third employee was affected by the gas, then evaluated by mill staff. The employee declined any further evaluation.

Lyons said one of the injured employees had been involved in a chemical leak incident last May.

“He has been sensitized to the gas,” Lyons said.

In all, nearly 50 employees of the 500 working at the site were evacuated for about an hour while the chlorine dioxide line was contained and the area ventilated. The gas was released when a forklift accidentally hit the gas line.

Chlorine dioxide is used in the pulp bleaching process and as a water disinfectant.

Lyons said in a news statement that less than four pounds of the chlorine dioxide was released. The reportable amount is 20 pounds. He said the Maine Department of Environmental Protection was notified of the accident as a courtesy.

Employees were readmitted to the work site at 1:18 p.m.