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Nearly 800 Call Poison Center After Charleston Chemical Spill
By: Associated Press
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The West Virginia Poison Control Center has received nearly 800 calls from concerned residents since a chemical spilled in the Elk River.
The center's director, Dr. Elizabeth Scharman, says 737 calls involved possible human exposure to the chemical, while 54 were related to pets and other animals.
The center normally receives about 100 calls a day.
Scharman says some callers reported symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, diarrhea, reddened skin and rashes.
She says the calls were a mix of likely spill-related symptoms, stress-related responses to the spill and unrelated conditions.
The center recommended that a handful seek treatment at hospital emergency rooms.
Scharman says other callers also went to emergency rooms after contacting the center.
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board says it will investigate the chemical spill in the Elk River that has contaminated the public water supply in nine counties.
Board chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso said Saturday that the board wants to find out how a leak of such magnitude occurred, and how to prevent similar incidents in the future.
U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller says he's pleased with the board's quick response to his request for an investigation.
Thursday's spill from a Freedom Industries facility in Charleston also is being investigated by the U.S. Attorney's Office and the U.S. Occupational and Safety Administration.
West Virginia American Water has told 300,000 people in the affected counties to not drink their tap water or use it for bathing, cooking and washing clothes.