An employee reaches her hand to another on an ambulance cot
at the scene of a hazardous material leak, Wednesday April 29, 2015, at a Home
Solutions Infusion Therapy office in Hammonton, N.J. where 17 were injured.
Hammonton Police Chief Robert Jones tells the Press of Atlantic City that two
of the injured were airlifted to hospitals. (Michael Ein/The Press of Atlantic
City via AP)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015
HAMMONTON, N.J.
Authorities say a chemical leak at a medical company in
southern New Jersey has left several workers feeling ill.
The refrigerant leak happened Wednesday at Home Solutions
Infusion Therapy in Hammonton. The cause of the leak remains under
investigation, though officials say it may have been caused by a malfunction in
the building's ventilation system.
Authorities say roughly 30 workers were assessed at the scene.
Eight people were taken to hospitals for further evaluation, while two others
were airlifted by medical chopper.
Worker Kim Valentine told The Press of Atlantic City that
she smelled a chemical odor in the building before her throat became sore. Her
eyes were red and swollen, and she said they stung.
Other employees said they were nauseated and had headaches.
There are many types of refrigerant but most air
conditioners use either R-22 or Freon coolant – depending on their age. Newer
air conditioners may use R410-A refrigerant, an environmentally safer option.
All of these refrigerant types are chlorofluorocarbons or
CFCs. These chemicals are controlled substances by the Environmental Protection
Agency, meaning they must be properly removed and disposed of. Because your air
conditioner does not consume any of coolant in operation, it should never need
to be refilled unless there is a leak. Such a leak should be stopped
immediately due to the immense damage CFCs can do to the environment.
If refrigerant leaks into your office or home it will
evaporate as a gas and is harmful to inhale, causing a variety of health
problems, including nausea, headache and in extreme cases asphyxiation. These are the type of symptoms experienced by
these workers.