Evacuations Underway After Plant Explosion

WYMT Mountain News ^ | February 20, 2003 | WYMT Mountain News

[InShanghai]

A more than 20-mile stretch of I-75 is shutdown as an explosion at a southern Kentucky factory Thursday morning left two workers unaccounted for and 22 others injured.

A Corbin hospital reports 11 critically injured.

Large scale evacuations are reportedly underway as there are reports of a hydrogen cyanide chemical release, which is a toxic chemical.

The blast at CTA Acoustics occurred at 8:02 EDT, according to Ray Bowman, a spokesman with the state Division of Emergency Management.

About 22 people were taken to hospitals, Bowman said. A low-hanging cloud was visible near the Knox County plant, Bowman said, and homes south of the factory were being evacuated. 27 NEWSFIRST has learned emergency personnel have also been ordered to evacuate.

Bowman said the factory was on fire and there was a release of an unknown chemical. Firefighters from three counties were arriving to fight the blaze at the plant 90 miles south of Lexington, about a half-mile off exit-29 on I-75.

According to state economic development officials, the plant makes acoustical and thermal insulation products for the industrial and automotive industries and employs 561 workers.

A message left at the company's headquarters in Madison Heights, Mich., was not immediately returned.

[Chad Fairbanks]

< TinFoil > An awful lot of plant explosions lately... < /TinFoil >

[OXENinFLA]

Yup!

[NeoCaveman]

("As God as my witness.....I thought Armadillos could fly")

Les Nessman?

[RoseofTexas]

Begining to look like a pattern! Where the HELL are all the HELLyweirdos when you need them!! SUPER CLYMERS!!

[MassExodus]

An awful lot of plant explosions lately...

My office was nearly uninhabitable yesterday.... ; c /

[Semper Paratus]

My office was nearly uninhabitable yesterday

I hate taco bars too.

[RoseofTexas]

This calls for the HEAVY DUTY TinFoil!!

[Petronski]

hydrogen cyanide chemical release, which is a toxic chemical.

Prussic Acid, also known as Zyklon-B, if I recall correctly.

[Eva]

When my husband attended a port security meeting put on by the Dept of Homeland Security, they said that terrorism had not been ruled out in the first fire at that pharmaceutical plant.

[Damocles]

Hydrogyen Cyanaide - not good stuff...

 

Relationship between concentration and effects when inhaling hydrogen cyanide

Concentration (mg/m3)	Effect
300	Immediately lethal
200	Lethal after 10 minutes
150	Lethal after 30 minutes
120-150	Highly dangerous (fatal) after 30-60 min.
50-60	Endurable for 20 min. - 1 h without effect
20-40	Light symptoms after several hours

http://www.opcw.org/resp/html/hcn.html

[ncooper777]

YES, too many!!! HUMMM....perhaps the war has started here NOW! the new phase I speak of.

[TwoBear]

Our regional hospital here in East TN (South on I75)is preparing for the critically injured and is currently in Industrial Accident code. We heard 22 dead but as you know initial reports on these types of thing are always inaccurate.

[JustAnAmerican]

Way too many, seems to go in cycles. I.E. Rash of major train Derailments, Plane crashes, Factory explosions. But heck, I guess everything is a coinkydink.

[hang 'em]

Evacuations Underway After Plant Explosion

OMG! They've weaponized kudzu!

[InShanghai]

Yeah, but how many with Hydrogen Cyanide gas clouds and 20-mile stretch of Highway closed down?

OSHA Says...

---

Effects on Humans: Hydrogen cyanide can cause rapid death due to metabolic asphyxiation. Death can occur within seconds or minutes of the inhalation of high concentrations of hydrogen cyanide gas. A recent study reports an estimated LC(50) in humans of 3,404 ppm for a 1-minute exposure; other sources report that 270 ppm is fatal after 6 to 8 minutes, 181 ppm after 10 minutes and 135 ppm after 30 minutes [Hathaway et al. 1991]. Cyanide directly stimulates the chemoreceptors of the carotid and aortic bodies, causing hyperpnea. Cardiac irregularities are often noted [Amdur 1991]. Liquid hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen cyanide in aqueous solution [hydrocyanic acid], and the concentrated vapor are all absorbed rapidly through the intact skin and may cause systemic poisoning with little or no irritant effect on the skin itself. The liquid in contact with the eye may cause only local irritation; however, the attendant absorption may be hazardous [Hathaway et al. 1991]. Industrial exposure to hydrogen cyanide solutions has caused dermatitis, itching, scarlet rash, papules, and nose irritation and bleeding. Perforation of the nasal septum has also occurred [NLM 1995]. Workers exposed to hydrogen cyanide at concentrations ranging from 4 to 12 ppm for 7 years showed an increase in symptoms such as headaches, weakness, changes in taste and smell, irritation of the throat, vomiting, effort dyspnea, lacrimation, abdominal colic, precordial pain, and nervous instability [ACGIH 1991]. Workers exposed to low concentrations (not further specified) of hydrogen cyanide have developed enlarged thyroid glands [NLM 1995].

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Prayers offered for all those involved.

[MineralMan]

If you follow the link, the story now has been changed, to say that _no_ toxic chemicals have been released.

[rellimpank]

--yeah--not to be a spoilsport, but one of the most effective ways to get rid of low concentrations of HCN is to expose it to air and sunlight--