An investigation is under way into an incident at the Poolbeg incinerator in Dublin after 11 people were taken to hospital complaining of nausea, breathing difficulties and blurred vision.
A preliminary investigation by the company has found a small amount of hydrated lime was inadvertently released inside the building during commissioning and testing.
A statement from Dublin Waste to Energy Ltd said 11 workers were in an area close to the flue gas treatment area in the plant, when the incident occurred at around 10.45pm last night.
It is understood they began to complain about feeling unwell and after being given first aid on scene were taken to St Vincent's Hospital for assessment.
Nine were later discharged and two were kept in for observation. The two workers are not expected to be discharged from hospital until tomorrow.
Inspectors from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Health and Safety Authority are on site today.
In a statement, the EPA said it: "Will require a full report from the licensee in relation to this incident, which will address corrective and preventative actions to be taken. On foot of this report, and the EPA's own investigation, further action may be considered by the EPA."
The company is also carrying out its own investigation, and said initial findings suggest a problem with a door seal in the fabric filter bag house caused a release of lime.
It said the lime was contained in the building and did not escape into the environment.
Locals who opposed the incinerator have said they are concerned by the news while Fianna Fáil has called for an emergency information meeting of Dublin City councillors.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the incident is "extremely worrying" coming so soon after incineration began on the site.
Mr Ryan said that he, along with the Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Enviroment, Hildegarde Naughton, want to bring the company, local community groups and the EPA before the committee in relation to the incinerator.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Seán O'Rourke, Mr Ryan said he wants to "get real-time information" on the internal workings of the plant.
"We're not happy that correct monitoring of site has been put in place yet. What we want is real time information to be publicly available on every aspect of the process."
The General Manager of the facility said waste was being burned up until 9pm last night and was stopped to allow for some adjustments.
John Daly said when workers were heating up the plant at around 10.30pm, some hydrated lime was released from a silo into a flue gas treatment area.
He said there were around 30 men in the area taking down scaffolding and 11 were caught in a cloud of lime rising up.
"They felt some had ingested it so they visited our medic on site, had a shower, washed their eyes and then went in their own cars, or shared cars to St Vincent's Hospital for medical survey there," said Mr Daly.
He said nine of the men were discharged after around two hours.
He also confirmed that no lime made its way into the environment outside the plant.
