Dangerous chemical leak spurs evacuation order in Ohio town
Students in school buildings and residents in nearby homes have been told to evacuate near Cincinnati after a dangerous chemical began leaking from a railcar
CLEVES, Ohio (AP) — Students in school buildings and residents in neighboring homes were told to evacuate after a dangerous chemical began leaking from a railcar Tuesday near Cincinnati.
Aerial video showed firefighters spraying down the car, which was sitting upright on tracks between a highway and an asphalt plant.
Authorities said a pressure release valve on it was leaking styrene, a toxic and flammable chemical that is used to make plastic and rubber. It can cause headaches, nausea and respiratory issues, and long-term exposure can lead to more serious health problems including organ damage.
Hamilton County's Emergency Management Agency advised anyone within a half-mile (about 800 meters) of the area near U.S. Route 50 and the Great Miami River, west of Cincinnati, to leave immediately. Residents just outside the evacuation area were told to stay inside and keep their windows closed.
