CNN
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Some Houston-area residents have been requested to remain indoors after an anhydrous ammonia leak at a warehouse in Katy, authorities stated Sunday.
“We’re asking that residents shelter in place attributable to well being dangers,” stated Dr. Ericka Brown, director of Harris County Public Well being’s group well being and wellness division. “If anybody is experiencing watery eyes, burning eyes, irritation of the nostril or throat, issue respiration, we’re asking that you simply proceed to the closest emergency heart to hunt care.”
The county well being division tweeted the areas affected by the shelter-in-place advisory.
Anhydrous ammonia is a pungent gasoline with suffocating fumes that’s used as a fertilizer, based on the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
Anhydrous means “with out water.” If anhydrous ammonia combines with water within the human physique, it could trigger fast dehydration and extreme burns.
“There isn’t a antidote for ammonia toxicity,” the CDC’s web site says.
Signs of anhydrous ammonia publicity embrace respiration issue; irritation of the eyes, nostril or throat; burns or blisters.
Those that get anhydrous ammonia within the eyes ought to wash the eyes with giant quantities of water for quarter-hour.
Publicity to excessive concentrations of anhydrous ammonia can result in demise.
As of Sunday morning, no accidents have been reported in reference to the leak in Katy, the Harris County Fireplace Marshal’s Workplace tweeted.
The reason for the leak was not instantly clear, and it’s unsure how lengthy the shelter-in-place advisory will final.
“We actually will preserve everybody updated,” Brown stated. “We shouldn’t have a time presently of how lengthy the shelter-in-place goes to be.”
CNN has reached out to the Harris County Fireplace Marshal’s Workplace, the Texas Division of State Well being Companies and the Harris County Sheriff’s Workplace for extra data.