What chemical leaked from a tanker at East St. Louis manufacturing plant? Is it harmful?
Officials have released more details about an airborne chemical leak over the weekend at an East St. Louis manufacturing plant.
A chemical transport trailer containing hydroxyethyl acrylate over-pressurized, possibly due to excessive heating, on Saturday morning at the Allnex USA, Inc. plant, spokeswomen for the company and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency said this week.
Someone who saw smoke coming from the trailer, which was parked at the fence line of the Missouri Avenue site, called the fire department at 6:30 a.m. The city asked residents to avoid the area or stay inside. First responders gave the all-clear around 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Company and state officials say air and water monitoring near the plant have detected no “off-site impacts.”
The plant was closed at the time.
Two weeks before the chemical leak, there had been an explosion and fire, which injured two workers and prompted investigations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
The Allnex plant produces industrial coating resins and other materials. It uses hydroxyethyl acrylate in the production process for several products, according to the company spokeswoman.
Exposure to hydroxyethyl acrylate can be dangerous, according to information from the World Health Organization and International Labor Organization.
The East St. Louis Fire Department requested a St. Clair County hazmat team early Saturday morning to help get the chemical leak under control.
People exposed to hydroxyethyl acrylate may experience the following symptoms:
Coughing, sore or burning throat and trouble breathing if you inhale it.
Blurred vision, eye pain or redness if it gets in your eyes.
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman Kim Biggs said Tuesday that the state would continue to follow up at Allnex.
