Carbon monoxide makes 38 ill in Elgin

Fire officials are investigating the cause of a carbon monoxide leak that sent 38 people from an Elgin business park to hospitals Friday afternoon.

A tenant at the Elgin-O'Hare Commerce Center, 1190 S. St. Charles St., alerted authorities to a number of people feeling ill and one person passed out just after 2 p.m. Friday. Workers were complaining of headaches, dizziness and shortness of breath — all symptoms consistent with carbon monoxide exposure, according to a news release from the South Elgin and Countryside Fire Protection District.

Patients were sent to Sherman and St. Joseph hospitals in Elgin, Delnor in Geneva, St. Alexius in Hoffman Estates, and Central DuPage in Winfield.

A Sherman Hospital representative said four patients were admitted overnight. Two patients were discharged Saturday morning, one patient was in the process of being discharged Saturday, and one female patient was in stable condition, but it was unknown when she would be discharged, the representative said.

A total of 40 people were evaluated on scene, authorities said.

“I have a headache but I'm OK. A lot of people had headaches,” said one employee, Nicole Calabrese, who works at Dovenmuehle Mortgage.

The source of the leak is believed to be two propane gas-powered forklifts. Crews found elevated levels of carbon monoxide throughout the complex, but the highest level, a 309 ppm reading, was found in the portion of the building at 1180 S. St. Charles St., according to fire officials.

The maximum recommended exposure limit for carbon monoxide is 35 ppm during an eight-hour period, officials said.

Fire investigators ventilated the building, then turned on the forklifts and noted high carbon monoxide readings again.

The commerce center was fully evacuated after emergency crews arrived, according to Kim Wascher, the fire district's spokeswoman.

Emergency crews from 13 jurisdictions responded to the call.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been advised of the carbon monoxide outbreak, officials said.

Ill: Forklifts the culprit