INSTITUTE, W.Va. (AP) — No one was injured when a small quantity of hydrogen cyanide leaked at the Bayer CropScience plant in Institute.
Plant spokesman Tom Dover says the leak from a distillation column was detected late Saturday night. He says the problem was fixed by maintenance work.
The state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management says about 12 lbs. of the chemical leaked. The department says it was quickly cleaned up and no one was injured.
Commonly known as prussic acid, hydrogen cyanide is commonly used in industrial production. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration says high concentrations of it can rapidly cause death.