White powder identified after going airborne, sending 14 to hospital at Caldwell County facility

Hazmat crews identified the powder that exposed workers at Prime Recycling in Lenoir as urea, a substance officials described as nonhazardous and commonly used in skincare products. The incident occurred Monday as employees opened boxes, and 14 workers were taken to hospital with breathing problems. All evaluated employees have since been cleared and released, and the facility reopened Tuesday.