A major chemical spill incident occurred in Toledo, Ohio, USA on Tuesday night, and emergency protective measures continued to escalate on Wednesday, October 21.
As the leaked industrial chemicals spread in the air, Toledo officials ordered mandatory evacuation for residents within a 1-mile radius and advised residents within a 3-mile radius to shelter in place on Wednesday morning. Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz warned at a press conference on Wednesday morning that there was still a potential risk of explosion from the chemical tank involved in the incident, within 12 hours after the incident (until around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday).
The accident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday night at the MC Tank Transport terminal in North Toledo, where a tank with a capacity of 5,500 gallons leaked a chemical substance identified as glycidyl methacrylate. This chemical, originally used in liquid industrial paint products to enhance the performance of plastics and paints, had transformed into a gas form and dispersed in the air after the leak.
There was initially conflicting information regarding the occurrence of an explosion at the scene. Mayor Kapszukiewicz referred to the event as an “explosion” at one point, but city spokesperson Rachel Hart later clarified in an email to USA TODAY that there was no explosion. Instead, a significant release of smoke occurred after the chemical leak from the tank.
It is known that a county sheriff’s deputy was injured while responding to the scene on Tuesday night and had been taken to the hospital for treatment, but the specific extent of their injuries has not been disclosed. Due to the ongoing release of gas from the chemical tank and concerns about explosion risks, frontline emergency personnel and the Hazardous Materials Response Team have not approached the tank directly.
CNN reported that this incident has severely impacted local traffic and community life.
Authorities have ordered the mandatory evacuation of approximately 983 residents within a 1-mile radius of the incident. As of Wednesday morning, all residents in the evacuation zone had been successfully relocated. Residents within a 3-mile radius outside the evacuation zone were instructed to shelter in place, close doors and windows, and turn off ventilation systems that draw outdoor air indoors.
Local resident Lynda Ragland, speaking on CNN’s Situation Room program, mentioned smelling the odor in the early morning and initially mistaking it for a house fire. “I had to cover my air conditioning vent and put towels around the door to try to keep the smell out. My house got foggy inside, it was very scary,” she said.
Toledo Fire and Rescue Department Deputy Chief of Special Operations Michael Posadny stated that ships docked at the Toledo port were prohibited from leaving until the danger was cleared, and all CSX railroad trains passing through the accident site were halted.
Furthermore, a dense fog appeared in Toledo on Wednesday morning, affecting visibility at the scene and delaying drone monitoring operations. The mayor emphasized that the fog was a natural weather condition unrelated to the chemical spill incident.
Lucas County Regional Health Commission Commissioner Karim Baroudi pointed out that glycidyl methacrylate is toxic with long-term exposure posing carcinogenic risks, but urged the public not to panic excessively due to the smell.
Possible symptoms of exposure or overexposure include eye, nose, mouth, and skin irritation, along with headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, or vomiting. Smelling the odor or feeling slight irritation in the air does not necessarily indicate a health hazard exposure level has been reached.
Officials recommended that residents experiencing eye discomfort or difficulty breathing should “immediately take a shower.” If symptoms persist or worsen, prompt consultation with medical professionals is advised.
MC Tank Transport issued a statement emphasizing the safety of residents, emergency personnel, and employees as a top priority. They are actively collaborating with local authorities and the American Red Cross to provide emergency shelter and transportation assistance to affected evacuated residents, while urging everyone to strictly follow official evacuation and shelter-in-place instructions.