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Chemical spill hits village...again!
8 March 2000
People in the village of Weston, near Runcorn in Cheshire, have been dealt a double-whammy following today's chemical leak at the European Vinyl Corporation's (EVC)Rock Savage plant. A number of householders were moved from the same village some weeks ago after it was discovered that the toxic gas HCBD had leaked into a number of houses from an old ICI dump. According to ICI "Of the 131 properties monitored, a total of 22, including the scout hut, have had detectable readings of HCBD."
Today's leak is reported to have released 2 tonnes of hydrogen chloride. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency hydrogen chloride can be corrosive to the eyes, skin and mucous membranes. Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure may cause coughing,hoarseness, inflammation and ulceration of the respiratory tract, chest pain, and pulmonary edema in humans. Skin contact may produce severe burns, ulceration, and scarring.
Mike Childs, Senior Toxics Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said,
"Yet again the residents of Weston are suffering the consequences of living near a poorly controlled chemical industry. The Government must take action and ensure that the industry uses clean technologies to manufacture safe chemicals, rather than using outdated technologies to make dangerous chemicals."
An analysis of official pollution data by Friends of the Earth revealed that EVC released 131 tonnes of carcinogens into the air in 1998 (the latest available data). This was the 18th largest release of carcinogens, with ICI Runcorn coming second releasing 3,235 tonnes.
A recent report for the Royal Society of Chemistry said that the chemical industry had reduced research and development and "appears to depend more on maintaining existing business and less on generating new products and processes."
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
