CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A chemical leak at the DuPont plant in Belle on Tuesday released less than one pound of monomethylamine into the atmosphere, said Roger Hess, DuPont's human resources manager.
Monomethylamine, or MMA, is a clear, colorless gas that is recognizable by its fishy odor. At high concentrations it smells like ammonia. Vapor exposure can be harmful, especially to the eyes, and can cause tearing and inflammation of the lungs and upper respiratory tract.
DuPont makes the gas in Belle, Hess said. Much of it is sold to the pharmaceutical industry, he said.
No injuries were caused by the leak, Hess said.
The leak occurred on a transfer pump, he said. The plant sounded a fume alert and Kanawha County Metro 911 was notified, he said. The fume alert was sounded at 11:42 a.m. and was called off at 11:47 a.m., Hess said.
The Belle fire department was sent to the scene but had just arrived at the plant when the leak was declared all clear, a Metro dispatcher said Tuesday.
Reach Gary Harki at gha...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A chemical leak at the DuPont plant in Belle on Tuesday released less than one pound of monomethylamine into the atmosphere, said Roger Hess, DuPont's human resources manager.
Monomethylamine, or MMA, is a clear, colorless gas that is recognizable by its fishy odor. At high concentrations it smells like ammonia. Vapor exposure can be harmful, especially to the eyes, and can cause tearing and inflammation of the lungs and upper respiratory tract.
DuPont makes the gas in Belle, Hess said. Much of it is sold to the pharmaceutical industry, he said.
No injuries were caused by the leak, Hess said.
The leak occurred on a transfer pump, he said. The plant sounded a fume alert and Kanawha County Metro 911 was notified, he said. The fume alert was sounded at 11:42 a.m. and was called off at 11:47 a.m., Hess said.
The Belle fire department was sent to the scene but had just arrived at the plant when the leak was declared all clear, a Metro dispatcher said Tuesday.
Reach Gary Harki at gha...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.
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Thank you, DuPont!
Merely an individual opinion...funfun..
The increasing number of reported leaks and "incidents," and God-only-knows how many unreported or under-reported leaks that never reach the media, suggests many of DuPont's aging, rundown old-technology factories may be especially susceptible to potentially dangerous contaminations of people and surroundings.
It's as clear as a Belle!...which leaked toxic sulphur trioxide into the air only a few days ago!
Merely the opinion and observation of one individual citizen...funfun..