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Halifax Regional Police say it appears the suspicious substance that was found at the Atlantic Credit Union Wednesday morning was put there by accident.

Police responded to the bank on Spring Garden Road around 9 a.m.

"A sealed baggie containing an unknown powder was found in an envelope that came into the facility through the banking machine, the ATM machine," said Halifax Regional Fire Divisional Chief Dave Meldrum.

He said the baggie was found in a deposit envelope, along with some cash.

Police and fire crews attended the scene Wednesday morning and a decontamination shower was set up at the entrance to the bank in case any fire officials or police officers needed to be cleaned off. However, police say it wasn't used.

Spring Garden Road between Dresden Row and South Park Street was shut down to vehicular traffic for about three hours. It has since re-opened and police have cleared the scene.

A spokesman with Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency says three Atlantic Credit Union employees came into contact with the package and were temporarily isolated until it was determined the substance would only be harmful if injested.

"We haven't identified the product exactly," says Chief Dave Meldrum. "There's a number of compounds in that powder, but what the technicians have told us is that none of it is harmful to human health, unless you were to ingest it in large quantities."

There have been no reports of injuries or illness.

The investigation is now in the hands of Halifax Regional Police, who say they still aren't certain exactly what the powder is, although they don't believe it's hazardous.

"Is it a drug? At this point it's hard to say but it certainly would fall more into that category I believe, based on we've learned so far, than say some other agent that would be considered harmful to the public," said Const. Brian Palmeter.

Police also say they have used banking records to determine who is responsible for the mysterious deposit.

"My understanding is we have spoken to that individual and while the investigation is ongoing, at this point there's no indication there was any malicious intent," said Palmeter.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Kayla Hounsell