Residents of northern Toledo, Ohio, were ordered from their homes after glycidyl methacrylate escaped from a chemical tank, prompting authorities to establish evacuation and shelter-in-place zones around the site.
People within one mile of the site were told to evacuate, while those within three miles were directed to remain indoors, shut windows and doors and turn off ventilation systems that bring in outside air.
Toledo Fire & Rescue originally issued an evacuation order at 10:48 p.m. Tuesday for the area surrounding the MC Tank Terminal on Progress Avenue. At 4:24 a.m. Wednesday, officials expanded precautions by ordering people within three miles to shelter in place as crews monitored the continuing release.
The city said people outside those zones who notice an unusual odor should also go indoors and limit outside air entering their homes. Officials warned that the fog blanketing Toledo made visual assessments unreliable.
Early accounts differed over whether an explosion occurred. Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz described an explosion during a Wednesday news conference and said officials were concerned that the tank remained volatile.
However, the City of Toledo's official emergency page said there had not been an explosion and described the incident as a hazardous-material release.
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What Is Glycidyl Methacrylate?
Glycidyl methacrylate, commonly abbreviated GMA, is a colorless liquid used in industrial materials. Chemically, it is an ester of methacrylic acid and glycidol, containing both an epoxide group and a methacrylate component. Its chemical formula is C7H10O3, and it has a reported flash point of 76 degrees Celsius (about 169 degrees Fahrenheit).
The compound's dual functionality makes it a useful building block in manufacturing. It can serve as a monomer, meaning a molecule capable of linking with other molecules to form larger polymer structures, and is used in epoxy resins, modified polyolefins and other resin systems. Epoxy-based materials have broad applications in coatings, adhesives and composites.
Those industrial properties are distinct from the immediate public-health issue in Toledo. City officials warned that exposure to the chemical released at the site can produce irritation involving the eyes, nose, mouth and skin.
Reported symptoms of overexposure include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.
The city advised anyone experiencing minor irritation to rinse or shower and contact a medical professional, while people suffering serious symptoms such as breathing problems, vomiting, dizziness or confusion were told to seek emergency care.
What Caused the Chemical Leak?
The release came from equipment connected to MC Tank Transport's operations in northern Toledo late Tuesday. Officials were alerted around 9:30 p.m., according to on-scene reporting, and issued the evacuation order at 10:48 p.m.
The company handles liquid chemicals, and the tank involved had a capacity of 5,500 gallons, according to Kapszukiewicz.
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