SAINT JOHN, N.B. -- New Brunswick's J.D. Irving says a quarantine has been lifted after it was determined that a powdery substance discovered during an inspection of a rail container is not a hazardous material.

Six people were quarantined at NB Southern Railway's distribution centre after the substance was found in a container car Wednesday morning.

J.D. Irving spokesman Geoff Britt says several series of tests determined that the substance is the pest control agent known as phostoxin.

Britt says people exposed to high amounts of the substance can experience illness within a few hours.

But he says all six people are feeling fine, so the quarantine was lifted late Wednesday night.