"More than 40 employees at a Woodland cannery were taken to Sacramento area hospitals and more than 800 people were evacuated shortly after noon Sunday when a chemical used in tomato processing leaked into a work area, authorities said."
"Two employees of Pacific Coast Producers, an agricultural cooperative, were seriously affected from exposure to the gas, chlorine dioxide, according to Greg Robinson, battalion chief for the Woodland Fire Department.
He put the number of affected employees at 43. A dozen ambulances transported 22 workers to area hospitals. The other 21 were taken to hospitals by bus.
Company spokeswoman Mona Shulman said the two most seriously affected workers suffered "inhalation distress" from exposure to the gas at the plant in the 1300 block of Lemen Avenue.
The chlorine dioxide leaked into the work area in the form of "off-gassing," apparently when an injection system carrying the gas became overloaded."
Loretta Kalb and Whitney Mountain report for the Sacramento Bee August 22, 2010.
