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Toledo toxic chemical release prompts evacuations, smell: Updates
USA Today • • general
Key Points:
- A chemical leak of glycidyl methacrylate at the MC Tank Transport terminal in Toledo, Ohio, forced nearly 1,000 residents to evacuate and others to shelter in place due to a potential explosion risk lasting about 12 hours.
- The chemical, used in industrial coatings and stored as a liquid, was released as a gas, causing irritation to eyes, nose, and skin; one sheriff's deputy was injured and treated at a hospital.
- The leak resulted from an error during transfer from a 5,500-gallon tank, and officials emphasized that smelling the chemical does not necessarily indicate harmful exposure levels.
- Authorities have been monitoring the tank for explosion risk, preventing hazmat teams from approaching it, and advised residents to follow safety instructions, including shutting windows and ventilation.
- MC Tank Transport, part of Kenan Advantage Group, is cooperating with authorities and stressed safety concerns for residents and responders while acknowledging the disruption caused by the incident.
