LA PORTE, Texas – Four workers were killed and one was injured Saturday during a hazardous chemical leak at a suburban Houston industrial plant, DuPont officials said.
The chemical, methyl mercaptan, began leaking around 4 a.m. in a unit at the DuPont plant in La Porte, about 20 miles east of Houston. Plant officials said the release was contained by 6 a.m.
Methyl mercaptan was used at the plant to create crop-protection products such as insecticides and fungicides, according to DuPont. The cause of the leak was not immediately known.
Five employees were in the unit at the time of the incident and were exposed to the chemical, the company said. Four died at the plant, and one was hospitalized.
“There are no words to fully express the loss we feel or the concern and sympathy we extend to the families of the employees and their co-workers,” plant manager Randall Clements said in a statement. “We are in close touch with them and providing them every measure of support and assistance at this time.”
The company said the fifth worker who was hospitalized was being held for observation but didn’t provide further details. DuPont would only say “the employee is currently receiving treatment.”
None of the victims was immediately identified.
Clements said that the employees had responded to the leak in a valve when they were exposed and that the company would be co-operating with local, state and federal officials investigating the leak.
“As part of that investigation, we are conducting our own top-to-bottom review of this incident and we will share what we learn with the relevant authorities,” he said.
Jeff Suggs, emergency management co-ordinator for La Porte, said the chemical release was not toxic for those living nearby, but that it caused a smell that’s similar to rotten eggs.
“It’s a nuisance smell in the area. It’s a smell that’s travelled quite far,” Suggs said.
Methyl mercaptan is also commonly used to odorize natural gas – which has no odour – for safety purposes.
The La Porte plant has 320 DuPont employees. Four other companies are also tenants at the complex.
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