Bad smell after technical breakdown No danger

„No danger“ after technical failure in Cologne refinery

01/17/2015

A technical defect in a Cologne refinery has caused noise and odor nuisance. Some residents could smell the smell of rotten eggs. Dangerous pollutants that could endanger health were not released into the air.

Odor nuisance in Cologne
On Friday, according to a message from the news agency dpa, a technical defect in a refinery was responsible for odor nuisance in the south of Cologne. According to a fire department spokesman, there was no danger to the population. According to the information, the fire brigade carried out pollutant measurements as a precautionary measure. The Shell Rheinland refinery had to shut down the production facilities after the defect at the Godorf plant. The existing residues were burned with special torches.

Tank exploded with toxic chemical last year
This formed flames and smoke that were visible from afar, as the spokesman said. „As long as this is normal, there is no danger.“ Some citizens had the smell of rotten eggs perceived, according to fire brigade but not complained about it. At the Godorf plant, a tank of toxic chemicals exploded about a year ago. At that time no humans came to damage. But in November 2013, two workers were severely injured in a deflagration.

Accidents in chemical companies
Despite all the precautionary measures, which are prescribed by law for companies, accidents occur repeatedly in chemical companies. For example, in a chemical accident in 2012 in a foam factory in Oestrich-Winkel, Hesse, the poisonous chemical TDI leaked from a safety valve during a charging process. The gas cloud, which then formed, was bound by the fire, although with water, but the substance apparently reacted further, which had a deflagration result. In the process, the highly toxic cyanide-related chemical isocyanate was quenched. A substance that, according to experts, causes coughing, shortness of breath, runny nose and eye irritation and could even be fatal in high concentrations. (Ad)

Picture credits: Carsten Böttcher