11 People Sickened by Carbon Monoxide at Fulton Market

Several people reported symptoms including rapid heartbeats, headaches and dizziness.

At least 11 people were hospitalized after being sickened by carbon monoxide at a food business in Chicago Monday.

Police said emergency crews were called to 1115 W. Fulton Market, which is listed as the address for Aspen Foods Inc., just before 11:30 a.m. for a hazardous materials situation and reports of people sick.

Ten people at the meat processing plant were taken to hospitals in good condition after reporting symptoms including rapid heartbeats, headaches and dizziness, according to police. Another person was transported in good-to-fair condition, fire officials said.

Police said four people were transported to Norwegian American Hospital, two people to University of Illinois Chicago Medical Center and four people to John H. Stroger Jr., Hospital of Cook County. It was not immediately clear where the eleventh person was transported.

The cause of the high carbon monoxide levels was not immediately known.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is known as a silent killer: an odorless, colorless gas that can be generated by any appliance that burns fossil fuel, including any appliance in your house that burns coal, wood, charcoal, gasoline, or propane, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure include headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness.
 

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