LA PORTE, Texas — A “chemical emergency” at ALTIVIA Specialty Chemicals in La Porte prompted a shelter-in-place Monday afternoon, the office of emergency management said.
The order was lifted around 1:35 p.m., about an hour after it was issued.
The offices of Judge Lina Hildago posted to social media and the OEM confirmed to KHOU 11 that at least eight people were taken to hospitals from ALTIVIA due to exposure. All eight were stable when they left the facility.
According to the OEM, a chemical release of phosgene is what led to the shelter-in-place.
Residents south of Fairmont between Bay Area and S. 16th Street were asked to shelter in place.
ALTIVIA released the following statement:
"This morning at approximately 10:35 a.m., ALTIVIA Specialty Chemicals confirmed a rupture of a pressure release device, resulting in a release of phosgene at ALTIVIA’s La Porte, Texas facility. At this time, there are indications from fence monitors that some vapors migrated across the facility’s southern fence line and could impact the areas surrounding the facility to the south.
"ALTIVIA’s processes at its La Porte facility have been shut down, and personnel have successfully contained the release. There were no injuries at ALTIVIA’s facility associated with this release.
"The safety of our employees, neighboring communities, and the environment are ALTIVIA’s utmost concern, and we are actively monitoring the situation and availing our resources to work in close cooperation with the City of La Porte, Harris County, and other governmental entities on the response."
What is phosgene?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, phosgene is “a colorless gas with a suffocating odor like musty hay. Exposure to phosgene may cause irritation to the eyes, dry burning throat, vomiting, cough, foamy sputum, breathing difficulty, and chest pain; and when liquid: frostbite. Workers may be harmed from exposure to phosgene.”
Phosgene is used to manufacture chemicals, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals, the CDC says.
What is ALTIVIA Specialty Chemicals?
According to the company’s website, ALTIVIA is headquartered in Houston. It is a privately held company founded in 1986 as a water treatment chemical producer. Now, it is a producer of phosgene derivative intermediates and operates the third-largest merchant production facility of phenol, acetone, and alpha-methyl styrene, the site says. sa
KHOU 11 is sending a crew and will provide more information as it becomes available.