Chemical spill in Illinois sends 37 people to the hospital, including 7 in critical condition

[Elderberry]

By Eric Levenson, CNN 4/25/2019

A leak in a container holding hazardous chemicals created a massive chemical spill early Thursday and sent 37 people to the hospital, including seven in critical condition, said authorities in Beach Park, Illinois.

One of the patients in critical condition is a firefighter.

A preliminary investigation found that the containers, which held anhydrous ammonia, were being towed by a tractor on Green Bay Road in Beach Park, a village north of Chicago, Sgt. Christopher Covelli of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said.

Anhydrous ammonia, a colorless gas with pungent fumes, can cause unconsciousness and even death when inhaled. The chemical is commonly used by farmers as an agricultural fertilizer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More: https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/25/us/chemical-spill-illinois/index.html

[Smokin Joe]

The chemical is also used in at least one process to make "bathtub" Meth. All the farmers here who used to have water troughs to dive into in case of a leak emptied them in hopes some jerk meth cooker would get burned skinless by the stuff. Damages to equipment were in the hundreds of thousands, as meth guys were cutting hoses to put adapters on them to thief the anhydrous into propane tanks and the like (which leaked and turned the brass valves bluish). That's been pretty much shut down in these parts, now, (Major FBI/DEA/Local LEO task force effort) but may be happening elsewhere...