Sidney anhydrous ammonia spill affects 24 people

Twenty-four people were treated after a Sidney anhydrous ammonia spill Sept. 11 at MaMa Rosa’s Pizza restaurant in Sidney, Ohio. Sidney is a city of about 22,000 located 40 miles north of Dayton.

According to a press release from Sidney Department of Fire & Emergency Services (SFD), first-responders were dispatched to the business at 1843 Progress Way at 7:26 a.m. after a report of anhydrous ammonia exposure.

When the first-responders arrived, they were informed by Mama Rosa’s employees that approximately one-third of a pound of anhydrous ammonia had leaked because of a broken valve. The spill leaked for approximately 15 seconds before it was contained by maintenance personnel.

The first-responders investigated using monitoring equipment and detectors. They reported that they did not detect any dangerous levels of odors or vapors.

Nine patients were treated by paramedics at the time, and three of those nine were taken to Wilson Health.

Sidney anhydrous ammonia spill:
Second call, second response

At 9:03 a.m., the fire department was dispatched a second time to Mama Rosa’s on a continuation of anhydrous ammonia exposure. Those first-responders then again investigated with monitoring equipment and detectors, but again monitors did not detect dangerous levels of vapors or odors.

During this second incident, one patient was transported to Wilson Health, and an additional 14 patients were evaluated and released by SFD.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency was contacted regarding the exposure.

Twenty-four people were treated – and four sent to the hospital – after a Sidney anhydrous ammonia spill at MaMa Rosa’s Pizza restaurant in Sidney, Ohio.

Sidney anhydrous ammonia spill:
Could have been much worse

Last week’s spill, which lasted less than a minute, underscores just how quickly anhydrous ammonia becomes toxic. In a highly publicized incident on April 25, an anhydrous ammonia spill in Beach Park, Illinois, injured almost 40 people – at least seven critically – and forced the closure of several area schools.

A spokesperson for the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association said that in the case of the Beach Park spill, the hose on the tanker transporting the chemical was connected, which can produce a dangerous situation. Under Illinois state law, a connected hose is not allowed while anhydrous ammonia is being transported on public roads.

Sidney anhydrous ammonia spill:
What is anhydrous ammonia?

Anhydrous ammonia is most commonly used by farmers as a fertilizer. The chemical, however, turns from liquid to gas quickly when it is not under pressure.

It can often be seen being transported in rural areas, usually in tankers or in tanks towed behind pickup trucks. The chemical requires tanks because it needs to be kept under pressure. If any equipment used to transfer anhydrous ammonia fails, there can be a release of gas. That creates a dangerous and potentially deadly situation.

Anhydrous ammonia does not contain water, so when it comes in contact with bodily tissue that contains water — especially the eyes, throat, and lungs — it can burn and scar the tissue. The damage happens instantly, upon contact, and only worsens from there. The tissue needs to be flushed with water immediately to minimize the extent of the injury.

If the tissue is not flushed immediately, anhydrous ammonia can damage the lungs or skin severely. If the scarring of either of those organs is severe enough, death is a possibility.