“Anhydrous ammonia is a common substance but very dangerous. It can cause asphyxiation (and) burns,” Worth said.
Anhydrous ammonia is used by Millard for refrigeration, Wirth said. It is a colorless gas with a pungent smell. Exposure to ammonia in sufficient quantities can be fatal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The compound has been cited by experts as a possible culprit for the massive fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas last year, which flattened homes, killing 14 people and injuring 200 others. That plant was also storing ammonium nitrate. Investigators have been unable to determine an exact cause for the explosion.
No one was injured during the leak, which was isolated to one room of the facility. The Springfield Twp. fire department assisted with decontamination. A HAZ-MAT crew entered the building and accessed two release valves to vent the gas outside. Wirth said the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency was notified of the venting.
The company will have to replace the valve, Wirth said. About 40 minutes after the initial call, employees were allowed back into the building.
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