U.S. warns on metal recycling

ATLANTA, July 21 (UPI) -- Metal recycling facilities need to be aware that unlabeled containers may contain hazardous materials that can release toxic substances, U.S. officials say.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report says recycling of unlabeled metal containers sold as scrap can be dangerous to the recyclers and people nearby.

An explosive release of chlorine gas occurred June 8, 2010, when a worker at a metal recycling facility in California used an excavator to cut into a 1-ton low pressure unlabeled tank sold to the facility as scrap metal, the report says.

Twenty-nine people were at or near the metal recycling facility at the time of release and seven hospitals treated 23 people. Emergency departments treated 17 of those as outpatients and six people were admitted to the hospital, the report says.

"Metal recycling facilities need to be aware that unlabeled containers may contain hazardous materials and must plan for how to prevent releases like this and what to do if a release occurs," federal health officials say.