Mulberry, Fla.-Cool air and fog were cited as causes of the temporary hospitalization on Oct. 18 of 17 contract workers at The Mosaic Co.’s sulfuric acid plant at its Bartow phosphate processing plant in Mulberry, Fla. Mosaic spokesman David Townsend said a weather inversion of cool air and fog pushed a cloud of SO2 to ground level, where about 25 contract workers were affected by the gas. Normally, the gas passes into the atmosphere and does not immediately return to ground level. Townsend said emergency medical personnel transported 17 of the workers to a nearby hospital for treatment; only one stayed the night, due to high blood pressure. Workers began complaining about the smell and shortness of breath, but none of the injuries were considered serious. Because of the large number of people involved, EMT officials called a bus to transport the injured to the hospital.
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