Chilean Coast Evacuated
Due To Toxic Spill
Students and workers
were evacuated after a
toxic compound spilled
Tuesday near the Chilean
port of Ventanas,
Chilean sanitary
authorities said.
The organic compound
identified as
2-Ethylhexanol is a
marine pollutant that
irritates human skin and
respiratory system. This
derivative of ethanol
has spread to the
neighboring town by wind
after spilled from a
Chilean industrial
factory named Animex
Tuesday morning.
Twenty-five students
with breathing problems
so far has been sent for
emergency service in
Ventanas, 180 km
northeast of Santiago.
The attending doctor
Mauro Carvacho said "the
symptom caused by the
compound is similar to
that of tear gas. It
causes headaches,
dizziness, vomiting and
sometimes skin
irritations when inhaled
in high concentration."
The contamination also
caused the death of
fishes like sea basses,
sardines and atherines.
Samples were collected
by Chilean National
Service of Fisheries for
further study.
The cause of the
accident are under
investigation by Chilean
sanitary authority.
Ricardo Correa,
spokesman of the
ecological counsel of
Puchuncavi, near the
port of Ventanas,
criticized the sanitary
authority for postponed
reaction and limited
clarity of the accident.
|
