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Toledo chemical leak forcing evacuations/shelter-in-place orders
Toledo Fire and Rescue are at the scene of a hazardous materials release at MC Tank Terminal on Progress Ave near Enterprise Blvd in North Toledo. Officials said at 9:30 p.m. last night a chemical tank exploded containing glycidyl methacrylate and that one person was injured.
FOX 2 - The evacuation zone in northern Toledo, where a chemical leak triggered a massive hazmat response, has been reduced Thursday.
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Toledo area hospitals treated 57 patients for symptoms related to the incident, with seven still being treated Thursday afternoon, and none are in serious condition, according to the city.
This morning the evacuation zone was reduced to a quarter of a mile, in an announcement made late this morning. Late last night, it was limited to a half of a mile.
Officials say the source of the leak was at MC Tank Terminal, 1266 Progress Avenue, where a chemical tank exploded containing glycidyl methacrylate on Tuesday night.
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There are 64 households in the evacuation zone. At its peak Wednesday, nearly 1,000 were impacted during a one square mile evacuation order.
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SkyFOX over chemical release in Toledo causing evacuation
Toledo Fire and Rescue are near the scene of a hazardous materials release at MC Tank Terminal on Progress Ave near Enterprise Blvd in North Toledo.
Officials say the water is not contaminated. But those returning to their homes have been told to ventilate their residences by allowing outside air in, while turning heat or air conditioning on to cycle in the indoor air.
Residents also have to clean household surfaces and vehicle door handles and check food and drinking containers, throwing out food that may have been left out.
For more information go here.
Symptoms to Check For
Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) can irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory system and may cause skin sensitization. The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department also has a symptom tracking hotline: 419-779-7089.
- Eyes: Watering, burning, redness, or irritation
- Breathing: Sore throat, coughing, chest discomfort, or shortness of breath.
- Skin: Unexplained rashes, itching, or redness. • Other: Headaches, dizziness, or nausea.
What is Glycidyl Methacrylate?
Glycidyl methacrylate is an industrial toxic chemical. It is abbreviated as GMA, and is described as an organic chemical compound with the molecular formula C7H10O3, according to PubChem, from the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
The chemical is used for construction and building materials like flooring, tile, sinks, bathtubs, mirrors, wall materials/drywall, wall-to-wall carpets, insulation, playground surfaces and includes semi-permanent fixtures such as faucets and light fixtures, it said.
The injured sheriff's deputy transported himself to a nearby hospital for treatment, said Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz.
The Current Status
The tank is still releasing the chemical material, the city says, adding that crews have monitored the MC Tank Terminal site overnight into Thursday.
"The release has slowed significantly, and the tank temperature continues to decrease," said a statement from the city. "As tank pressure decreases, so does the explosion risk, and crews have begun preparing to enter as conditions improve. Today's goal is to transition site control back to the owner for cleanup."
What Does MC Tank Terminal Do?
On its website, it says that it specializes in liquid bulk chemical transportation and ISO container services. delivering and storing caustic soda, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid and specialty blends using tractors and tank trailers.
It also deals with container services, providing storage, transport, maintenance, and ISO tank containers, which are steel cylinders used to keep and transport the chemical liquids in.
The Source: Information for this report is from the city of Toledo's website and from previous coverage.