8 sickened by chemical exposure at plant in Ill.

Tag : chemical material

Officials first thought it might be something contagious.
The chemical was released when a barrel was dropped at apackaging/repackaging facility in East St. Louis, Illinois. The FBIinvestigated and found nothing to suggest there was anythingcriminal or terrorism-related.

%@AP Links

CUT 053 (08/31/08)>> 00:09 "that place"
Robert Betts
East St. Louis, Illinois, City Manager Robert Betts says he doesn'tknow if the employees had permission to be in the building at thetime of the mishap. COURTESY: KTVI TV ((mandatory on-air credit))

CUT 052 (08/31/08)>> 00:15 "full report"
Robert Betts
East St. Louis, Illinois, City Manager Robert Betts says the FBIhas been called in to investigate. COURTESY: KTVI TV ((mandatoryon-air credit))

CUT 051 (08/31/08)>> 00:05 "uh contained"
Robert Betts
East St. Louis, Illinois, City Manager Robert Betts says thesituation is now under control. COURTESY: KTVI TV ((mandatoryon-air credit))

APPHOTO ILBND101 (08/31/08)>>
: Hazardous material specialists from Hulcher Professional Servicesuse brooms and industrial vacuum cleaners to remove the hazardousmaterial that spilled on a loading ramp and dock in East St. Louison Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008. Eight people were sickened after exposureto a chemical at an East St. Louis, Ill., plant on Saturday, andemergency rooms at two hospitals were quarantined after thosepeople sought treatment. The incident began when a barrel wasdropped at Ro-Corp. in East St. Louis. Mehlville Fire Chief JimSilvernail said the lid popped off the barrel and the white powderinside the barrel came out.