Chemical Behind North Toledo Evacuation Identified as Glycidyl Methacrylate
An industrial chemical used in plastics, paints and coatings leaked from a 5,500-gallon tank at MC Tank Transport, prompting a one-mile evacuation and a three-mile shelter-in-place order.
By Khalid Rahman ·
The chemical behind the evacuation of hundreds of people in North Toledo has been identified as glycidyl methacrylate, an industrial compound used to improve the performance of certain plastics, paints and coatings.
The leak was first reported Tuesday night at MC Tank Transport Inc., located at 1266 Prospect Ave. The company said it is working closely with the Ohio EPA and city officials as the incident continues. Authorities set up a one-mile evacuation zone around the site and ordered residents within a three-mile radius to shelter in place.
According to the company, the release came from a 5,500-gallon tank and was caused by an error made while the material was being transferred.
The Ohio EPA says glycidyl methacrylate "is classified as a flammable and has a noticeable odor." The chemical is fairly common in the making of paint and plastics, but it can irritate the lungs, skin and eyes. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, has also identified it as a "probable carcinogen."
Weather conditions on Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning added to the concern. A temperature inversion combined with widespread fog kept the chemical close to the ground. Winds were not strong enough to mix it out of the air, but there was enough air movement to carry it beyond Toledo, which is why many people across the region have reported smelling it. The EPA notes that the chemical's odor is strong, so people will likely detect it before concentrations reach hazardous levels.
Meteorologist Derek Witt of 13 First Alert spoke with chemistry experts about the situation. Steven J. Sucheck, Ph.D., said the compound is used to make polymers, which are part of everyday life.
"Usually there are no problems when they are handled safely. Obviously there needs to be some investigation to see what went wrong in this particular case," Sucheck said. He added that storage standards exist and that investigators will need to examine the condition of the tanks and what went wrong in the process.
"But we use these chemicals every day to make very important materials that benefit society tremendously," Sucheck said.
Originally published by News Media House · Source: 13 ABC Action News (WTVG)
