14 hospitalized after exposure to unknown substance at Lenoir recycling facility

The video above is a live stream of WBTV and affiliated programming, and may not be directly related to the article below.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Over a dozen people were hospitalized after being exposed to an unknown powdery substance at a recycling facility in Lenoir, authorities said.

Lenoir Fire officials said the hazmat incident happened Monday, Nov. 9, at Prime Recycling, an industrial recycling facility on Watson Road in southwest Lenoir.

Authorities responded to the facility around 10:57 a.m. after a caller reported that someone was having trouble breathing, according to the Lenoir Fire Department.

A white, powdery substance was reportedly found on top of some packages and was believed to have caused the breathing problems.

Caldwell County officials said 22 ‘patients’ were found at the facility and at least 14 people were taken to a hospital for treatment. Paramedics reported that additional people had also been affected by the exposure.

It was not immediately clear what the substance was or how it got into the recycling facility.

The State Bureau of Investigation, Lenoir Fire Department and Asheville Fire Department’s hazmat team responded. Ashville Fire was working to identify the substance and a press release was expected Monday, Nov. 9.

Read: Weekend fuel spill reported at hospital in Charlotte: What to know