GEO Group spokesman Christopher Ferreira said HDQ Neutral was always used at the Adelanto facility in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines. We could be looking at hundreds of thousands of specific violations of law.”EPA representatives conducted a virtual inspection of the Adelanto facility in July in response to complaints. He said HDQ Neutral had been used for nine years at the facility, but that the frequency of applications increased in response to the pandemic. The product label says HDQ Neutral can cause irreversible eye damage and skin burns, and that it should only be used in well-ventilated areas. Detainees told EPA officials they witnessed people mixing HDQ Neutral with other chemicals and spraying inside microwaves without being wiped away afterward.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 23, 2021 01:52 UTC