Toxic chemical leak sparks mass evacuation as mysterious haze blankets Ohio city

Residents in parts of Ohio were instructed to leave their homes on Wednesday after a leak of a toxic chemical that can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and mouth, while nearby communities were advised to shelter in place indoors.An evacuation order for individuals within a 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) radius of the "hazardous materials release" was issued around 10:50 p.m. Tuesday. Toledo residents in an additional 3-mile (4.8-kilometer) perimeter were instructed to shelter in place.Thick fog and haze obscured sightlines across the city of roughly 265,000 residents, where local news outlets noted a strong plastic-like scent.Some Ohio residents have been ordered to evacuate because of the release of a chemical that can cause burning of the eyes, nose, mouth and skin (Toledo Fire and Rescue Department)"The release is ongoing, and crews continue to monitor the situation," the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department confirmed in a statement published online early Wednesday.Authorities linked the evacuation directive to a location along Progress Avenue, a commercial and industrial zone in northern Toledo. The department did not name a business, but MC Tank Transport Inc., which is located on that street, said in a statement Wednesday that “equipment associated with our operations is involved in the hazardous materials incident.”MC Tank said the chemical involved is glycidyl methacrylate, which it described as “an industrial chemical used to make certain plastics, paints and coatings perform better.”The company, which handles the transportation of liquid chemicals, said: “Our immediate and overriding concern is the safety of area residents, emergency responders and our employees.”It said it is working with the fire department and other emergency authorities.“We have mobilized additional specialized emergency response resources to assist,” it said in the statement.The fire department said symptoms of overexposure include headache, dizziness, tiredness, nausea and vomiting. It advised residents to contact a medical professional if they believe they are having a reaction to exposure.Overexposure can trigger dizziness, headaches, fatigue, vomiting, and nausea, and the department urged anyone believing they are suffering a reaction from exposure to contact a medical professional for advice."You can’t tell fog from the release by looking, so please don’t rely on how the air looks," the department said in the news release. "If you are outside the evacuation or shelter-in-place zones and smell an unusual odor, please stay indoors, close windows and doors and turn off ventilation that draws in outside air."Several local schools closed Wednesday while others delayed opening.An elementary school served as a temporary reception center, and buses were deployed to offer additional shelter for displaced residents.