The authorities were striving to find a safe solution Damaged tank At a Southern California aviation facility that contained a hazardous chemical used to make plastic parts, the issue led to an evacuation order affecting thousands of residents.
A storage tank at GKN Aerospace overheated with about 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,713 to 26,498 liters) of methyl methacrylate last week and fumes began leaking into the air around Garden Grove, an Orange County city. Officials said over the weekend that the tank could leak all the chemicals or even explode if it overheated.
No injuries were reported, but an evacuation order was issued for more than 50,000 residents over Memorial Day weekend. Firefighters were constantly spraying the tank with water in an attempt to cool the heating chemicals inside and prevent an explosion.
Methyl methacrylate is a colorless, flammable liquid used in the production of resins, plastics, and plastic dentures and is a federally regulated hazardous substance. The substance can irritate the lungs, eyes, and skin, and high doses can cause decreased lung function, along with dizziness and memory problems. According to To the Environmental Protection Agency. Air monitoring tests so far have found that air pollution around the evacuation zone is within normal limits.
Officials said the tank’s drain valves were not working, leaving the question of what to do with the chemical inside as threats of overheating continued. Local authorities said that if action is not taken, there could be a major chemical leak or explosion.
Firefighters focused on keeping the tank temperature below 85 °F (29.4 °C) to relieve pressure. On Sunday, EPA Chief Lee Zeldin said the most likely scenario would be to “release a small amount” of the tank’s contents, so officials can “monitor, neutralize and contain the threat.”
If the temperature inside the tank rises, it will cause pressure to build up as methyl methacrylate turns from a liquid to a gas, increasing the risk of explosion, which could ignite other tanks on site.
An explosion that releases the chemical into the air would send it into a wider area, and could create fumes that are dangerous when inhaled, according to Orange County’s chief health officer, Dr. Regina Chinseo Kwong.
If people inhale the vapor, it can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and lungs and may cause a sore throat, burning eyes and even dizziness, said Chincio-kwong. She said the chemical has a fruity odor, but smelling it does not mean a person will have health effects.
In prolonged cases, exposure to methyl methacrylate can cause serious respiratory problems or render a person unconscious. The evacuation zone is located west of Anaheim, home to the two Disneyland theme parks, which were not subject to evacuation orders. People outside the evacuation zone do not need to worry about health effects, Chincio Kwong said.
Officials said Sunday that the tank may have been cracked, which could reduce the risk of explosion. Emergency crews spotted the possible crack in the tank overnight, said Captain Weihao Huang of the Orange County Fire Authority. Despite the rift, the tank does not appear to be releasing any toxic chemical into the atmosphere, he said.
Releasing the chemical in a low quantity and monitoring it will allow officials to monitor it and relieve pressure on the reservoir, Zeldin said. GKN Aerospace said Sunday afternoon that it was continuing to work with local authorities and that “the situation remains ongoing.”