Wednesday, September 01, 1999
Pesticide found in garbage truck
Reaction, fumes disrupt neighborhood
BY SARA J. BENNETT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BATAVIA — A chemical reaction caused by a pesticide in garbage confined dozens of people to their mobile homes Tuesday and kept dozens more from getting to their homes.
Hazardous-materials crews were called to Greenbriar Estates in Batavia on Tuesday morning after trash collectors for Rumpke discovered four packets of magnesium phosphide in their truck.
The chemical, a powder that creates a potentially fatal gas when combined with water and is commonly used as a pesticide, had begun to smoke in the back of the truck.
Two of the collectors were taken by ambulance to Clermont Mercy Hospital, where they were treated and released. Three firefighters also were treated at the hospital for heat exhaustion.
Trailers near the truck were evacuated, and fire officials closed the mobile home park for several hours.
By early afternoon, the hazardous material had been contained and the area declared safe. But the mobile home park remained sealed off until a cleanup crew removed the pesticide.
“I just want to get home,” said Kim Smith as she watched emergency personnel bustling among rows of ambulances and fire trucks. Ms. Smith, 41, missed work after she drove past the reaction site and emergency crews detained her to check her vital signs.
“I'm fine now,” she said. “I have a headache and I'm sick to my stomach, but I think I'm just stressed.”
The drama began for the mobile home park on Old State Route 32 around 9 a.m., said Tom Milewski, a public information officer for the Williamsburg Fire Department.
Rumpke employees were loading trash into their truck on Sulphur Springs Drive when they noticed a smoky vapor, apparently caused by the pesticide reacting with moisture in the back of the truck. They called fire officials, who called hazardous-materials crews from Milacron Inc., Mr. Milewski said.
The team put the four packages of magnesium phosphide into a garbage can, Mr. Milewski said. The chemicals reacted again, popping the lid off the can and causing emergency officials to consider evacuating the entire mobile home park.
By 1:30 p.m., however, the chemical had been contained. Still, no one was allowed into or out of the park until Heritage Environmental Servicescould remove the chemicals.
The closure caused confusion for residents, many of whom were just getting home from, or trying to leave for work. Area schools were in structed to keep children who live in the mobile home park at school until it was safe to return. Younger children who got out of school earlier than others were taken to Batavia High School's cafeteria.
A small group of people gathered near the yellow tape sealing off the park's entrance, anxious for word on their loved ones.
“My daughter is in there,” said Toni Mudd, 45. “They have a phone inside. They're OK, but it's still scary. I'm a little worried.”
Magnesium phosphide is commonly used to kill insects and animals in large storage piles of grain, said Jim Crawford, on-scene coordinator for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's emergency response. When mixed with water, it creates a toxic gas.
The environmental agency is investigating how the chemical got in residential trash, Mr. Crawford said. But the person who threw the pesticide away may not face charges, he said, even though it's unusual to find magnesium phosphide in a residential area.
“If someone had it for household use and decided they didn't need it anymore, that's exempted from hazardous-waste laws,” he said. “It's not illegal to do that. It may not be the smartest thing to do, but it's not illegal.”
Emergency crews from Batavia, Williamsburg, Mount Orb, Union Township, Bethel-Tate and the American Red Cross all responded.
Prosecutor: Sheriff broke law when he sued Democratic Party
Thousands gather for vision of Mary
Ballpark job complex
Mary Love's killer could get death penalty
Death of infant begs for answers
Executive shot by son expected to recover fully
New rules on car seats begin today
A new tool in the search for breast cancer
Jury works on case of fliers
Second woman sues over employee dunking
Street succumbing to retail sprawl
Two CPS schools reborn
Annual luncheon celebrates survivors
Boutique caters to all women's health
Orange barrels demand a polka
T-shirt launches Tall Stacks poster
Art museum director plans outreach
Cincinnati's Century of Change
GET TO IT
Tristate scene: Gravelrama in Cleves
Summer promos can predict network bombs
Assault charge violated rights, suit says
Beiting steps down as chairman
Bicycle lanes to open in township
Cell-phone calls credited with limiting fire damage Fire damages antiques shop
Centenarian still raring to go
Comments sought on Ky. 16 plans
County leans on insurer to pay man for wreck
Discipline urged against officer
Farm too small for inquiry in death
Fluor Daniel must submit bid to finish Fernald cleanup
Laurel Homes residents fear displacement
Ludlow mayor won't back down
Man accused of kidnapping ex-wife
Northwest retiree takes post at Badin
Norwood man charged after traffic death
Pesticide found in garbage truck
Rose's ex-bookie accused of roughing up Springboro officer
Teller shot, wounded in West Carrollton bank robbery
Trenton school upgrades begin
TRISTATE DIGEST
United Way goal for N.Ky.: $3.5M
Ways to lessen airport noise being studied
