INDIAN ISLAND – The chemical reaction that sent seven people to the hospital on Monday was caused when the cook placed a leaking 5-gallon container of mechanical dishwasher detergent into an aluminum bucket, not a cooking pot as previously reported.

“[The detergent] has an ingredient in it called potassium hydroxide,” Indian Island Fire Lt. Joey Loring said Tuesday. “When that reacts with aluminum, it will cause that reaction.”

A state health inspector and representative from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Tuesday visited the Ruth Attean Health Center, also known as the Indian Island Health Center, where the incident occurred.

A cook was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor for the chemical burn she received on her leg during the incident, but was able to return home sometime Monday evening, according to Loring.

The other people who suffered inhalation injuries and two emergency medical services personnel who were hospitalized after breathing in fumes from patients’ clothing were treated Monday at EMMC and then released.

“Everybody’s doing OK right now,” Loring said Tuesday.

The facility houses a food pantry, kitchen, day care, counseling center and medical clinic. The day care was open Tuesday.

After touring the facility, the state and OSHA inspectors supplied a list of items in the kitchen that need to be thrown out.

“The entire kitchen needs to be washed, and some food items need to be discarded,” Loring said. “Any open containers of stuff had to be thrown away.”

He expects that insurance will cover some of the cost to restock the food.

“It looks like as soon as they clean the kitchen they can open up for business,” Loring said.