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The mysterious white powder causing concern in West Jordan turned out to be a silicon-gel based powder used in shipping. The shipment, which came from overseas, apparently had too much powder and in high doses the powder can cause respiratory problems.
It was found in an industrial complex that houses a popular sporting goods company and led to the quarantine of at least four people.
They were working at the Sportsmen's Warehouse Distribution Center at 9669 S. 6200 West.
At first, firefighters believed the white powder was inside a trailer, but when they went in, they didn't find any.
Around 10:30 a.m. four employees were unloading a trailer outside the center and spotted a white powder. The business' emergency response team quarantined the area.
One person did complain of having cold or flu-like symptoms. He left the scene and went to a clinic in Sandy. Marc McElreath, assistant chief for West Jordan Fire Department, said the man was intercepted by Sandy fire and decontaminated before he showed up at that clinic.
Three other employees are being watched at the scene by the fire department, but the fire department says that they are not complaining of any symptoms right now. McElreath said, "We take a lot of precautions because there is an unknown, and we could test it and find out it's some sort of packing material they used when they packed the merchandise up and there's no health risks to anybody, but we don't just take that for granted. We want to test it and make sure."
The building was not evacuated.
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