Tyson Foods, EPA reach settlement over ammonia releases in multiple states
One fatality, multiple injuries from leaks
The EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice have announced a settlement with Tyson Foods, Inc. and several of its affiliate corporations over incidents in which anhydrous ammonia was released at facilities in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska, resulting in multiple injuries, property damage, and one fatality.
In a May 25, 2012 incident in Nebraska, 40 workers were taken to local hospitals and treated for chemical inhalation. Approximately 150 people were in the plant at the time of the toxic release.
Anhydrous ammonia is a poisonous gas and considered an extremely hazardous substance. Exposure to vapors can cause temporary blindness and eye damage, as well as irritation of the skin, mouth, throat, respiratory tract and mucous membranes. Prolonged exposure to anhydrous ammonia vapor at high concentrations can lead to serious lung damage and even death.