Ammonia leak update: Worker describes seeing 60-foot plume of white gas

[Robbien]

Source: Alabama Live/Press-Register

THEODORE, Alabama -- . . .

Ray Darville, a supervisor working for a BP contractor doing oil cleanup, said he picked up a very strong smell of ammonia this morning. He looked north across the canal and saw what he described as a 500-foot by 60-foot plume of white gas. Darville said his eyes burned and his throat and sinuses hurt.

. . .

By 11 a.m., the smell had dissipitated, but small wispy plumes could be seen rising above the roof of Millard Refrigerated Services, where the tank was located. The company uses ammonia to freeze chicken for shipment abroad. Two ships were reportedly docked at the company's slip on the Theodore Industrial Canal.

. . .

Noel’s neighbor John Ponder, whose Deer River Seafood is directly next to Millard, walked over and the two men began talking, but neither noticed anything out of the ordinary. Then the wind went still.

"John made it about halfway back to his place when he started yelling, ‘Jimmy leave. It’s burning my nose and throat. Get out of here,’" Noel said. "Sabrina came out of the house just then and said it was burning her eyes. I guess it was maybe 5 minutes later and just as we’re leaving, somebody’s siren went off." Noel said he isn’t sure if the siren was at Millard or another company on the canal because the smell and burning sensation in their eyes, noses and throats was getting worse, so they didn’t waste any more time in leaving.

Read more: http://blog.al.com/live/2010/08/ammonia_leak_update_worker_des.html

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Another article:
http://cbs2chicago.com/wireapnational/At.least.120.2.1874778.html


Ammonia Leak At Ala. Plant Sickens At Least 120

THEODORE, Ala. (AP) ― An ammonia leak at a coastal Alabama chicken distribution plant sent more than 120 people to the hospital on Monday, including four patients in intensive care, and forced residents to hide in their homes while warning sirens blared.

At least 29 people were admitted to Mobile-area hospitals, including the four in intensive care. Injuries to most of those admitted were not believed to be life-threatening, and others were treated and released, mostly for breathing difficulties.

. . .

The leak was reported about 9:25 a.m. CDT at Millard Refrigerated Services, which uses ammonia in the refrigeration process for chickens that are frozen and shipped around the world. The plant on the Theodore Industrial Canal, south of Mobile, is among numerous chemical plants and factories in the county.

Between 400 gallons and 800 gallons of ammonia leaked at the site, sickening workers at the plant and the BP staging area, said Capt. Shaun Hicks of the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department. Most reported minor breathing problems, scratchy throats or dizziness, he said.

"They were walking wounded, but they were still having respiratory problems," said Hicks.

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[FedUpWithIt All]

1. Our way of life is not manageable.

It is increasingly evident that we need to reevaluate our way of doing things.

[defendandprotect]

5. Capitalism exploits nature, natural resources and animal-life ---

and even other human beings according to various myths of "inferiority."

Unregulated capitalism is merely organized crime --

That's what needs to go --

The Unholy Trinity: --

Patriarchy -- and its underpinning, organized patriarchal religion --

and their invention: Capitalism

[Curmudgeoness]

2. Does anyone know just how ammonia is used to freeze chickens?

This creeps me out. And since I have had a little whiff of ammonia now and then, I can't imagine how horrible this would have been for the people around this place.

[slackmaster]

3. It's used as a refrigerant in closed systems, just as freon is

The chicken is not supposed to be exposed to the ammonia.

It's still commonly used in large air conditioning and refrigeration systems. The main reason that freon replaced it for consumer applications was safety in the event of a leak.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. Thanks. I can see the danger from consumer use of ammonia.

And very glad to hear that the ammonia is supposed to be in a closed system and not come in contact with the food.