Legal News for Texas Personal Injury Attorneys. A large Pasadena chemical plant explosion this morning causes minor injuries to 2 people.
Texas chemical plant explosion leaves 2 with minor injuries.
Pasadena, TX—A huge explosion occurred around 8:50 a.m. Wednesday morning, December, 2009, at the American Acryl chemical plant in Pasadena, creating a large black cloud of smoke that could be seen for miles. The chemical plant is located at 12100 Port Road near Texas State Highway 46. Two individuals were transported by emergency medical services (EMS) to the Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital to be treated for minor injuries and are in good condition at this time, according to the Houston Chronicle. City officials allegedly asked all area residents to seek shelter after the explosion because the toxic chemical toluene may have been released in the blast. After approximately one hour, the fire was completely extinguished and an automated recording by the company claimed that the explosion did not release any toluene.
According to information provided by the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov, a part of the Department of Health and Human Services, toluene, used in manufacturing products such as paint, paint thinners, nail polish remover, lacquers, and adhesives. The negative health effects toluene can cause vary depending on the level of exposure to the chemical. Low to moderate exposure to toluene may result in symptoms such as drowsiness, confusion, weakness, memory loss, nausea, loss of appetite, as well as loss of hearing and color vision. These symptoms allegedly disappear once exposure is cut off. Symptoms of higher exposures to toluene include light-headedness, dizziness, and lethargy. Being exposed to high levels of toluene can also cause unconsciousness, affect kidneys, and under more extreme circumstances, cause death.
Legal News Reporter: Sandra Quinlan- Legal News for Texas Personal Injury Lawyers.
