Phosphate dust affects 20 at San Fran plant

San Francisco-City fire authorities doubted there would be any action against a Pier 96 recycling company over an incident Aug. 27, when a box containing an undetermined amount of ammonium phosphate broke open on a conveyor and spread a cloud of dust that required treatment at the scene for 12 individuals and put one in the hospital. Eight others complained about eye irritation, but did not require treatment. San Francisco Fire Department spokeswoman Lt. Mindy Talmadge told Green Markets that the box was on the conveyor with other material at West Coast Recycling. “We didn’t know what it was at the time,” Talmadge reported. “Our paramedics assessed about 20 people reporting irritated eyes. Twelve of them had their eyes irrigated, and one was transported to the hospital.” She said that at first the unidentified material was treated as hazardous waste by the hazmat team, but when it was found to be non-life-threatening the hazmat team just wet down the fertilizer. “Actually this was considered not the proper way of disposing of ammonium phosphate, but I doubt that there will be any further action,” she added. “I think the ideal method of getting rid of unwanted ammonium phosphate is to dump it on your lawn.”