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29 Treated After Sulfur Gas Leak In Mulberry

News Channel 8 photo by PAUL LAMISON

Fourteen people were taken by ambulance to hospitals, and four were taken by a school bus the Polk County Schools sent to the plant.

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TBO.com

Published: October 17, 2008

Updated: 10/17/2008 11:46 am

Nearly 30 people at a Mulberry phosphate and mining facility were treated this morning after being exposed to a sulfur dioxide gas leak, Polk County Public Safety spokeswoman Heather Smith said.

Authorities said the call came from Mosaic, 3200 State Road 60 W., at 7:49 a.m. Smith said crews had the leak under control by 9:04 a.m.

After the release of sulfur dioxide that's part of the normal startup operations of a fertilizer plant, the gas stayed as a cloud, exposing 29 people, said Polk County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Jeremiah Gilley.

Fourteen people were taken by ambulance to hospitals, and four were taken by a school bus the Polk County Schools sent to the plant, Gilley said. Eleven were treated at the scene.

Mosaic public affairs manager Debbie Burdett said that at about 7:30 a.m. contractors reported a strong odor in the plant and started to investigate. They cleared the area and Mosaic's medical personnel called EMS as a precaution, Burdett said.

Burdett said there's always a release but today a mixture of cool, heavy air caused the cloud, which normally would dissipate, to hug the ground.

Gilley said exposure to sulphur dioxide can cause coughing, wheezing, irritation to nose, eyes and throat, tightness in the chest and difficulty inhaling and exhaling. It can exacerbate problems for those who already have respiratory illnesses such as asthma.

Based in Minneapolis, The Mosaic Co. is one of the world's largest phosphate mining and fertilizer companies, with revenue of more than $5.8 billion last year. The company's divisional headquarters are in Mulberry, but a new office is planned in the FishHawk Ranch area where it will consolidate 400 jobs from across the Tampa Bay area.

Polk County Fire Rescue, EMS and Mulberry Fire Department were at the scene.

Smith said Mosaic will conduct an investigation into the cause of the leak.

Stay with TBO.com for developments.

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