Current:Home > MyChemical leak at Tennessee cheese factory La Quesera Mexicana sends 29 workers to the hospital -ThriveEdge Finance
Chemical leak at Tennessee cheese factory La Quesera Mexicana sends 29 workers to the hospital
View
Date:2025-04-15 15:18:21
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Twenty-nine workers at a Tennessee cheese factory were sent to the hospital on Wednesday morning after a leak of anhydrous ammonia, Greeneville City Manager Todd Smith said at a news conference.
The Greeneville Fire Department was first called to La Quesera Mexicana at 7:15 a.m. when a leak occurred during maintenance on a valve. Six people were hospitalized at the time.
“The leak was contained and fixed at that moment. And the scene was certified as safe,” Smith said.
However, a second call about a leak came in at 10:01 a.m. A further 23 people were hospitalized and 53 other employees were evaluated for possible illness, Smith said. Anhydrous ammonia can irritate or damage the lungs and burn the eyes and skin.
Officials do not yet know if the two leaks came from the same source, Smith said, but the second leak was repaired and there was no risk to the surrounding community.
Ballad Health set up incident command centers at Greeneville Community Hospital and Johnson City Medical Center to handle the influx of patients, according to a news release from the health system. As of noon, the system was treating 25 patients from the incident.
Medical staff were working together with other emergency responders including from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
veryGood! (33573)
Related
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- Interest In Electric Vehicles Is Growing, And So Is The Demand For Lithium
- Do Your Eye Makeup in 30 Seconds and Save 42% On These Tarte Products
- Emma Watson Shares Rare Insight Into Her Private Life in Birthday Message
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- Survivor’s Keith Nale Dead at 62 After Cancer Battle
- How to stay safe using snow removal equipment
- Camila Cabello Shares Glimpse Into Her Coachella Trip After Shawn Mendes Kiss
- San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
- Victoria Justice Sets Record Straight on Claim She's Jealous of Ariana Grande
Ranking
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- COP27 climate talks start in Egypt, as delegates arrive from around the world
- Impact investing, part 2: Can money meet morals?
- Animal populations shrank an average of 69% over the last half-century, a report says
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- A U.N. biodiversity convention aims to slow humanity's 'war with nature'
- Why Betty Gilpin Says You've Never Seen a TV Show Like Mrs. Davis
- An ornithologist, a cellist and a human rights activist: the 2022 MacArthur Fellows
Recommendation
Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
Kate Spade 24-Hour Flash Deal: Get This $330 Backpack for Just $83
Climate Change Stresses Out These Chipmunks. Why Are Their Cousins So Chill?
Kylie Jenner Is Dating Timothée Chalamet After Travis Scott Breakup
Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
Travis Barker’s Birthday Message to Kourtney Kardashian Celebrates All the Small Things—and PDA
The activist who threw soup on a van Gogh says it's the planet that's being destroyed
The Weeknd’s HBO Show The Idol Has a Premiere Date and a Flashy New Trailer