Chemical leak at factory kills two and injures 30 in the USA

Following a chemical spill in the region, a decontamination tent is shown outside Thomas Memorial Hospital. John Raby / AP A chemical leak at a silver recovery company killed two people and left about 30 others hospitalized, including one in serious condition on Wednesday (22). The leak occurred at the Catalyst Refiners plant in Institute, West Virginia in the USA. The chemical reaction likely occurred during a cleaning process that produced toxic hydrogen sulfide. Authorities believe the gaseous chemical reaction involved nitric acid and another substance. A County representative added that there was “a violent reaction from the chemicals, which instantly overreacted.” A lockdown order was issued for the factory area, which was lifted five hours later. Authorities said all of the deaths occurred on the factory premises. Among the injured were seven paramedics who responded to the leak, authorities said. “We know first responders always run into fire. They put themselves in harm’s way,” Gov. Patrick Morrisey said at an evening news conference. According to Morrisey, one person is in serious condition. Other people were taken to hospitals in private cars or even a garbage truck. Vandalia Health Charleston Area Medical Center, one of several area hospitals, treated several patients, some brought in by ambulance, as community members arrived Wednesday afternoon asking to be checked out, hospital spokesman Dale Witte said. Witte said patients were experiencing respiratory symptoms including coughing, shortness of breath, sore throat and itchy eyes. WVU Medicine’s Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston said in a statement that it provided care to a dozen patients, including eight who arrived in private vehicles and were not at the scene of the accident but were in the area at the time. The hospital said the injuries were not considered life-threatening. The spill required a large-scale decontamination operation in which people had to take off their clothes and be sprayed with water, authorities said. Morrisey said local air quality and water supplies are not believed to be affected. Catalyst Refiners works to remove silver from chemical process waste. Ames Goldsmith Corp., owner of Catalyst Refiners, said it was saddened by the deaths and that its thoughts are with all those affected and their families. “This is an unimaginably difficult time,” company president Frank Barber said in a statement released at the press conference. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our colleagues and their families.” Ames Goldsmith promised to collaborate with local, state and federal authorities in investigating the leak. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has opened an investigation into the incident, a spokesperson said, adding that the agency has six months to complete the review. ➡️ Silver is present in several items, from printed circuit boards and other electronic components, photographic and X-ray films, to jewelry. Nitric acid is used to dissolve materials, leaving silver nitrate as a residue, which can be processed to recover pure silver. ➡️ Salvage companies may also crush or sandblast items with silver and use magnets or differences in density to separate the precious metal.

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