KEY POINTS:
Police are investigating the deliberate poisoning of two staff at a Wellington research centre.
The two employees drank milk spiked with formaldehyde in an incident linked to threats about animal testing.
It was reported yesterday that a disgruntled employee was believed to be behind the plot.
An email warning staff to "stop killing mice" was sent to staff at the Malaghan Institute on January 10 and on Wednesday a bottle of milk was spiked with formaldehyde, which two staff drank.
Formaldehyde is found in everyday items, including cleaning products and shampoos, but in large doses it can be fatal.
Research suggests there may also be a link between the toxic chemical and cancer, leukaemia, and respiratory and skin diseases.
The Malaghan Institute, based at Victoria University, is a leading research centre, investigating cures for cancer, asthma, multiple sclerosis and other illnesses.
Eighty staff and researchers work on the premises.
Institute director Graham Le Gros said staff felt violated.
"There's shock, horror, real worry and, for about 90 per cent of them, deep anger."
The incidents were designed to scare rather than harm people, he said, and they were very hard to predict or stop.
Milk neutralises formaldehyde, so the two staff who drank the tainted milk noticed an unpleasant taste and a strong smell but suffered no ill-effects.
Eating on the premises has been banned to prevent any further incidents.
- NZPA
