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Chemical Spill at Rohm and Haas

RINGWOOD - At least 100 pounds of a chemical were released into the atmosphere Monday night from a spill at the Rohm and Haas plant in Ringwood.

The release of vinylidene chloride resulted from too much pressure in the system, Facilities Manager Tom Bielas said. No one became ill, and the four or five employees working at the time immediately evacuated a processing building after the spill, Bielas said.

Vinylidene chloride, used to make food packaging, is blamed in 23 lawsuits and a class-action lawsuit against Rohm and Haas for allegedly causing brain cancers in McCullom Lake, about a mile-and-a-half to the south.

The McHenry Township Fire District responded to a call at 10:29 p.m. when a passer-by reported an odor in the area, Asst. Chief Mike Majercik said.

There was no detectable odor upon arrival, and fire personnel were told by company representatives that the spill was not dangerous, Majercik said.

"The gas was released in the atmosphere, but the amount was certainly not dangerous, they assured us of that," Majercik said. "It wasn’t detectable when we arrived."

Vinylidene chloride is a liquid with a sweet odor, used to make adhesives, synthetic fibers and food packaging, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Liver damage is a potential short-term effect of exposure, and lifetime exposure can result in kidney damage, cancer and fetal damage.

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