The LD50 of methyl methacrylate in rates is 7-10 g/kg. In comparison, the LD50 of table salt in rats is 3 g/kg. So it's not a highly toxic chemical.
Toxic chemical leak at a manufacturing facility in Orange County
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Re: Toxic chemical leak at a manufacturing facility in Orange County
#12They say it will fail for sure, either leak or explode.
I wonder why they can't drain the tank into another facility. Maybe they just lack an appropriate container.
Re: Toxic chemical leak at a manufacturing facility in Orange County
#13More fire / explosion risk than the "toxic cloud engulfs city" rhetoric people have been spreading. https://www.fishersci.com/store/msds?partNumber=AC127140100&...
I used to manufacture methylmethacrylate, as well as acrolein (which is often co-produced with MMA). These are among some of the more toxic chemicals currently manufactured in the USA.
Acrylates in general are truly awful. Our guys died with their faces boiling and breathing in their own vomit while also still vomiting. From a relatively brief exposure.
A bigger public risk of MMA is actually the extremely low odor threshold (in the parts per billion). The god-awful smell can make an area temporarily "unlivable" even below any known health thresholds. And it affects very large areas, because of the very low odor threshold.
Re: Toxic chemical leak at a manufacturing facility in Orange County
#14They say it will fail for sure, either leak or explode. I wonder why they can't drain the tank into another facility. Maybe they just lack an appropriate container.
I believe they are having issues with the valves, from what I’ve read.
But I’m just some guy.
Re: Toxic chemical leak at a manufacturing facility in Orange County
#15Re: Toxic chemical leak at a manufacturing facility in Orange County
#16More fire / explosion risk than the "toxic cloud engulfs city" rhetoric people have been spreading. https://www.fishersci.com/store/msds?partNumber=AC127140100&...
I used to manufacture methylmethacrylate, as well as acrolein (which is often co-produced with MMA). These are among some of the more toxic chemicals currently manufactured in the USA. Acrylates in general are truly awful. Our guys died with their faces boiling and breathing in their own vomit while also still vomiting. From a relatively brief exposure. A bigger public risk of MMA is actually the extremely low odor t…
Acrolein is about 300x more toxic than methyl methacrylate in rats. Was this unfortunate victim exposed to acrolein?
Re: Toxic chemical leak at a manufacturing facility in Orange County
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
I used to manufacture methylmethacrylate, as well as acrolein (which is often co-produced with MMA). These are among some of the more toxic chemicals currently manufactured in the USA. Acrylates in general are truly awful. Our guys died with their faces boiling and breathing in their own vomit while also still vomiting. From a relatively brief exposure. A bigger public risk of MMA is actually the extremely low odor t…
Acrolein is about 300x more toxic than methyl methacrylate in rats. Was this unfortunate victim exposed to acrolein?
Yes, I'm conflating them for dramatic effect, perhaps unfairly. If MMA is on fire, it will produce acrolein, and a lot of other chemicals as well.
I've known people who've died from both, separately, as well as ethyl acrylate and acrylic acid. I've gotten a few bursts of them in the face as well, luckily nothing too awful. I'll repeat that acrylates in general are truly awful chemicals to be exposed to.
Re: Toxic chemical leak at a manufacturing facility in Orange County
#18I'd be curious how it came to pass that 40k people were living within the blast radius of a plant processing toxic chemicals. Isn't this sort of thing the primary justification for the existence of zoning laws?
Imagine how often this situation lie this would be happening without institutions like OSHA or the EPA.
Stuff like this happens in Texas on a fairly regular basis, but it rarely ever makes national news.
Re: Toxic chemical leak at a manufacturing facility in Orange County
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
Acrolein is about 300x more toxic than methyl methacrylate in rats. Was this unfortunate victim exposed to acrolein?
Yes, I'm conflating them for dramatic effect, perhaps unfairly. If MMA is on fire, it will produce acrolein, and a lot of other chemicals as well. I've known people who've died from both, separately, as well as ethyl acrylate and acrylic acid. I've gotten a few bursts of them in the face as well, luckily nothing too awful. I'll repeat that acrylates in general are truly awful chemicals to be exposed to.
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Re: Toxic chemical leak at a manufacturing facility in Orange County
#20The LD50 of methyl methacrylate in rates is 7-10 g/kg. In comparison, the LD50 of table salt in rats is 3 g/kg. So it's not a highly toxic chemical.
It is however highly flammable and potentially explosive when sealed in a tank, which is the main concern.