TOXIC FUMES AFFECTS FLC AND PAX IN AN LTT; EMB-120. DIVERSION TO ALTERNATE.

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AT CRUISE ENRTE FROM IND TO DAY AT FL240 ABOUT 130 MI W OF IAD. ALL AT ONCE A TOXIC SMELLING ODOR FILLED COCKPIT AND PAX CABIN. ALL CREW MEMBERS AND PAX COULD SMELL ODOR. ALL CREW MEMBERS DESCRIBED EUPHORIC FEELING. WE DONNED OXYGEN MASKS. DECLARED EMER AND PULLED OUT QRH AND WENT THOUGHT CHKLIST. PKB; WV; WAS ONLY 40 MI TO THE NW SO WE DIVERTED THERE TO LAND. AFTER LNDG WE CLRED RWY; EVACED PAX AND SHUT DOWN THE ACFT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR REVEALED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE L RECIRCULATION FAN SYS WHICH THEN AFFECTED THE WIRING AND INSULATION SINCE THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OBVIOUSLY HAD NOT DISABLED THE CIRCUITRY. THE FUMES PRODUCED WERE VERY TOXIC AND AFFECTED THE CABIN ATTENDANT FIRST; SINCE HER BODY WT WAS LESS AND THE FUMES WENT FROM THE CABIN THEN INTO THE COCKPIT. THE CAPT WAS THEN AFFECTED AND AFTER THAT; THE FO. EMER VEHICLES HAD BEEN CALLED OUT AND AN AMBULANCE WAS INCLUDED IN THAT GROUP. ALL THE PAX AND CREW WERE CHKED OVER WITH THE CREW BEING GIVEN THE REST OF THE DAY OFF. THE ACR WAS FULLY INFORMED OF ALL ASPECTS OF THE INCIDENT WITH THE ACFT BEING REPAIRED AND BACK IN SVC THE NEXT DAY.