Lab: Burning rocks have elevated phosphate levels
Jun 1, 2012, 5:08 PM
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (AP) – Beach rocks that severely burned a Southern California woman when they spontaneously ignited in her pocket contained elevated levels of phosphate.
The Orange County Register reports Friday (
http://bit.ly/K0XMW7) that an independent lab confirmed previous findings by Orange County Public Health.
Lyn Hiner suffered second- and third-degree burns on her right leg from her thigh to her knee and on her right arm when the rocks set her shorts on fire several hours after she found them on a San Clemente beach. Her husband was also burned while trying to put out the flames.
The beach where the rocks were collected is next to the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and the Camp Pendleton Marine base.
It’s unclear where the phosphate came from.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
