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Leak at Iowa Prison Leads to 15 Exposed to Hazardous Chemicals

Loaded on Oct. 1, 2026 published in Prison Legal News October, 2026, page 43
Filed under: Toxic Fumes/Chemicals. Location: Iowa.

On September 2, 2026, fumes from a chemical adhesive used during roof construction at the Newtown Correctional Facility in Jasper County sent at least 15 Iowa prisoners and staff to the hospital. Emergency responders were called in after reports of individuals becoming sick, with hazmat protocols initiated as more people developed symptoms. All of the affected individuals were released from hospital following an evaluation. The adhesive, according to the state Department of Corrections (DOC), was used by a third-party contractor.

Newton Correctional Facility includes both a minimum and medium-security facility and has a capacity of around 1,050 prisoners. The prison was reopened shortly after it was determined to be safe.  

 

Source: KCCI

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