White Powdery Substance
According to an article published in the Pueblo Chieftain, on Tuesday, August 21, 2007, the Penrose Volunteer Fire Department was called to the Estes plant after "a white powdery substance" was discovered on two packages received from China.
The article quotes Fire Department Assistant Chief Calvin Sundermann as saying "Two male employees who had the most exposure because they were unloading the truck felt ill and as a precaution were taken to the hospital." The employees were treated and released from St. Thomas More Hospital in Canon City.
The Colorado State Patrol and Canon City Fire Department Hazardous Materials teams also responded to the incident. The teams collected samples of the powder.
The white powder was identified onsite as lime dust. According to Canon City Fire Department Capt. Dave Marshall, ""Lime exposure is not good, but it is not a major deal. It matches as the cause of the symptoms the men had, but thankfully, such small amounts were involved."
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