Champaign-Urbana: Highly Toxic Chemical Spilled at U of I’s Roger Adams Lab, Building Evacuated
A spill of 500 ml of acetic anhydride, a highly toxic and corrosive chemical, forced the evacuation of the Roger Adams Laboratory at the University of Illinois Saturday. Fire and hazmat crews contained the spill. No injuries were reported.
A hazardous chemical spill forced the evacuation of a University of Illinois research building Saturday, triggering a fire and hazmat response that lasted more than two hours.
The incident occurred at 600 South Mathews Avenue in Urbana, home to the Roger Adams Laboratory and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. The Urbana Fire Department was called to the scene at 12:40 p.m. on Saturday, according to WAND News.
An Illini Alert went out at approximately 12:55 p.m., instructing anyone in the area of 600 South Mathews Avenue to leave if it was safe to do so, according to the News-Gazette. A second alert 16 minutes later confirmed that fire and hazmat crews were on scene.
What was spilled
The Urbana Fire Department told WAND News that 500 ml of acetic anhydride was spilled in a lab.
Acetic anhydride is a clear, highly corrosive liquid with a strong, pungent vinegar-like odor. It is primarily used as an acetylating and dehydrating agent in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, plastics, dyes, and cellulose acetate fibers, according to WAND News.
The chemical is classified as highly toxic. Health risks include:
- Inhalation: Vapors are highly irritating and can cause severe respiratory distress, coughing, and even fatal pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
- Skin and eye contact: It is a strong corrosive that causes severe burns, permanent eye damage, and tissue destruction upon contact
- Ingestion: Swallowing the chemical causes severe internal burns, nausea, and vomiting
Building evacuated, no injuries
The fire department evacuated the entire building and directed people away from the surrounding area. No other areas of campus were officially evacuated.
An alert at 1:26 p.m. stated the spill was isolated but asked the public to continue avoiding the area, according to the News-Gazette. The Daily Illini reported that the Fire and Hazmat response team isolated the spill, with alerts sent around 1:10 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
The emergency was declared over at 2:22 p.m., when a new Illini Alert said it was safe to resume regular activities near 600 South Mathews Avenue, according to WCIA. The fire department cleared the scene at 2:40 p.m.
No injuries were reported, according to WAND News.
What the building houses
The Roger Adams Laboratory is a hub of chemical research at the University of Illinois. The building contains administrative offices for the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, research laboratory spaces, faculty offices, and equipment and resources for chemical research, including the EPR Laboratory, Machine Shop, NMR Laboratory, Cell Media Facility, and the Storeroom, according to WAND News.
The spill occurred just over a week after a van crashed into OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana, forcing an evacuation of the hospital on May 19.