By Alli Knothe, Globe Correspondent

A graduate assistant in the Boston College chemistry department was taken to a local hospital after he came in contact with a dangerous chemical this morning that forced officials to evacuate the building, authorities said.

The man was unpacking a box in a chemistry laboratory when he was exposed to a chemical that had spilled in the box. It was exposed to his skin and clothing, said Ed Hayward, spokesman for the school.

The man decontaminated himself using facilities in the building and was later transported to a local hospital, authorities said.

A Boston Fire Department Hazmat team responded to the scene and has evacuated the Merkert Chemistry Center at 2609 Beacon St.

It is unclear how many people were in the building at the time.

Hayward also reported that all students are safe and there is no immediate threat to the school.

The exposure did not cause life-threatening injuries for the man, he said. He could not identify the chemical.

Boston Fire spokesman Steve MacDonald said the chemical was identified as Piperdine.

No further information was immediately available.

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BC chemistry lab evacuated after graduate assistant is exposed to dangerous chemical