Wednesday, February 11, 2015

FERRIC CHLORIDE SPILL ON I-75 IN RICHMOND, KY SENDS A TROOPER TO THE HOSPITAL FOR INHALATION AND EYE EXPOSURE




 FERRIC CHLORIDE SPILL ON I-75 IN RICHMOND, KY SENDS A TROOPER TO THE HOSPITAL FOR INHALATION AND EYE EXPOSURE


February 11, 2015




RICHMOND, KENTUCKY: (WKYT)

A chemical, ferric chloride, leaked out of a tanker truck on Interstate 75, sending a trooper to the hospital, and backing up traffic for hours.  We assume it was liquid ferric chloride.  The tanker was carrying 3, 240 gallons of the chemical.




The spill happened a little after 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at Mile Marker 96 in the northbound lanes. The northbound and southbound lanes were closed from northbound exit 90 to exit 97.




Kentucky State Police say southbound lanes reopened around 4:00 p.m. and northbound lanes reopened about a half-hour later on Interstate 75.



State Police tell WKYT the chemical is ferric chloride solution and it is an inhalation hazard. One trooper did go to the hospital. 




Ferric chloride is used in wastewater treatent, purifying factory effluents and deodorizing sewage, mordant in dyeing and printing textiles; pigments and inks; and photoengraving.  It is an inhalation, skin contact and ingestion hazard.  It may cause eye irritation as well.  Need to get immediate medical attention.  Unfortunately for the troopers, they are first at the scene and they do not know what chemical they are dealing with.







"It may have some inhalation hazards. Drivers driving up the interstate with their air conditioning on, if there's any of that liquid on the interstate obviously that could be a hazard to them," explained Trooper Robert Purdy with Kentucky State Police.




Madison County Emergency Management issued a shelter in place order for people living in the area. The order affected the Madison Village, Lexington Heights and Clay Lane Estates subdivisions. Shelter in place means people should stay inside, keep their windows and doors closed and listen to local radio stations for further instructions. 




Emergency management says the shelter in place order is just a precaution. There is no immediate danger.




Ferric chloride is also know as iron chloride. It's primary use is to remove impurities in water and for wastewater treatment. Inhalation may irritate the nose and throat. Ingestion causes irritation of the mouth and stomach. Prolonged contact with skin causes irritation and burns. 




Workers at Madison County Emergency Management tell WKYT interstate traffic was rerouted Tuesday afternoon onto U.S. Highway 25.




"We are headed to South Carolina from Troy, Ohio and we got stopped about 11 o'clock and we've been sitting ever since on the highway," Nick Merrell, a driver, said, "we turned around on the highway, on the median and found a hotel and got a map and found some side roads. Made it this far, but those are all stopped too. Can't even go around."




Drivers called Tuesday morning's chemical spill a traffic nightmare.



"It's frustrating. We have a three-year-old in the car and we still have eight hours of driving to go," said Merrell's wife Jamie.




State police say the driver of the tanker wasn't injured, and the trooper who went to the hospital to be checked out for possible exposure to chemicals is expected to be okay.




The tanker belongs to Triad Transport out of Oklahoma. It transports hazardous waste.