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14 Hospitalized After Unknown Substance Found at Recycling Center
Officials said 22 people reported respiratory symptoms and eye irritation after workers opened boxes containing the unknown powder.
- On Monday, emergency crews responded to Prime Recycling in Lenoir after workers reported breathing issues following exposure to an unknown white powder at the Caldwell County facility.
- The facility handles palletized returns from various vendors. Employee Waylen Greer said air quality diminished while stacking pallets, causing coworkers to panic and struggle to breathe.
- Lenoir Fire Chief Norman Staines reported that 22 people were examined at the scene, with 14 transported to UNC Health Caldwell for evaluation. All patients were released by Tuesday.
- A North Carolina Hazardous Materials Regional Response Team could not identify the substance, though Staines confirmed "multiple samples were taken, with a mild irritant detected within one."
- Greer suggested implementing pre-inspections on all imports to improve warehouse safety, noting that "more could be done there to improve their safety" despite inherent hazards.
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14 hospitalized after white powder exposure at N.C. recycling warehouse
Hazmat teams responded to Lenoir’s Prime Recycling warehouse after a white powdery substance went airborne when workers opened boxes, sending 22 people to be examined and sickening staff at a nearby urgent care who treated an exposed patient
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Total News Sources10
Leaning Left0Leaning Right0Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution100% Center
Bias Distribution
- 100% of the sources are Center
100% Center
C 100%
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