What caused a ‘very large’ chemical leak in Seville

SEVILLE, Ohio (WJW) — A hazardous materials team responded Monday morning to a “very large” leak of hydrochloric acid in Seville.

Just before 10 a.m., Seville firefighters were the first to respond to 320 Ryan Road. That address belongs to BleachTech LLC, a bleach packager and chemical distributor, according to its website.

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A 30,000-gallon tank of the acid began leaking due to a cracked pipe, according to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The leaking acid flowed into the tank’s secondary containment unit — but that unit also has a leak, according to the EPA.

Two BleachTech workers suffered minor injuries and went to a nearby hospital on their own, according to the Medina County Emergency Management Agency.

Medina County’s hazmat team also responded.

The immediate area was evacuated and those inside businesses within a half-mile sheltered in place, according to the EMA. The shelter-in-place alert was reduced to a quarter-mile later that afternoon, then later lifted entirely.

“Please avoid the area,” read a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office.

The EPA reported earlier Monday the leak did not pose “an immediate risk,” but those living nearby were still urged to stay inside “out of an abundance of caution,” to avoid potentially breathing in fumes.

Just after 11 a.m., the Medina County Sheriff’s Office reported the leak was “under control.”

None of the acid left the BleachTech property, according to the EPA.

The EMA in a news release later Monday indicated some of the acid ended up in a pond at the site.

The leak happened near a storm drain that leads into that pond, the EPA indicated later that day.

Hazmat contractors on Monday afternoon worked to pump the liquid from that secondary containment unit into portable storage tanks. Most responders have demobilized, and a small crew is expected to remain at the site to oversee the cleanup.

“BleachTech is working with the hazmat and the Ohio EPA to recover the hydrochloric acid and limit impact to the environment,” the EMA said in a new release Monday.

Ryan Road is expected to stay closed “until the incident is resolved,” according to the EMA.

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What is hydrochloric acid?

Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is hydrogen chloride that’s been dissolved in water, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The acid is corrosive and can cause “eye damage, even blindness, if splashed in the eyes,” according to the CDC. It can also severely burn skin.

The gaseous form of hydrogen chloride can irritate the lungs, causing coughing and shortness of breath. Breathing in large amounts of the gas can also cause fluid buildup in the lungs, which could be fatal.

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