Hill, agency employees continue to complain about irradiated mail

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said mail checkers will use less radiation to kill possible anthrax spores in mail sent to Capitol Hill after Senate employees complained of illness after opening letters.

Postal workers also will let letters air out longer before sending it to recipients, Daschle said Wednesday.

Postal workers implemented the remedial action a couple of days ago, and it appears to be working already, Daschle said. "We can't really make any direct connection between any of these actions, but no new cases of illness have been reported,'' Daschle said.

The Washington Post reported Thursday that 73 Senate employees have reported health problems such as headaches, eye irritation and skin rashes after handling irradiated mail.

Last week, the General Services Administration issued an advisory to federal workers in Washington who handle mail, saying that "a small number of federal employees within the D.C. metro area have experienced problems."

Because of last year's anthrax incidents, mail to federal office buildings in Washington is being irradiated before delivery. Congressional mail is also being treated at postal facilities in Ohio and New Jersey.

Daschle said no direct connection has been found between the irradiated mail and the illnesses.