Evacuees return home after Kronos chemical leak
Le nuage émanant de l'usine #Kronos de Varennes vu depuis Repentigny Photo TC Media Stéphane Grégoire pic.twitter.com/6iVPhWR9RW
— Hebdo Rive Nord (@hebdorivenord) March 21, 2015theweathernetwork.com
Sunday, March 22, 2015, 2:54 PM - Those that were forced to leave their homes after a chemical leak on Saturday were allowed to return Sunday morning.
Local authorities confirmed that the chemical leak that occurred on Saturday in Montreal has been contained.
The industrial accident occurred at the Kronos factory around 10 a.m. local time Saturday. At least 15 homes and three nearby factories were evacuated.
Officials were urging nearby residents to stay indoors following a chemical spill in Varennes, an island suburb of Montreal.
A representative of the Quebec agency Urgence-Environnement was at the factory and officials were taking air samples to check the quality.
The Kronos chemical-producing plant released the toxic material titanium tetrachloride, a compound used in the production of titanium metal.
There is a gas leak at the Kronos factory in Varennes. People in the vicinity are being asked to stay indoors for now #cbcmtl
— CBC Montreal (@CBCMontreal) March 21, 2015
It transforms into a noxious white gas when it comes into contact with humid air.
The danger that wind will spread the toxic fumes beyond the city kept authorities on high alert.
Coming into contact with the chemical can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract if inhaled.
Highway 132 was closed on Saturday.
According to the American Environmental Protecton Agency, the compound has a "penetrating acid odour," but no links to cancer.
