B F Goodrich's General Chemical Plant in Akron and its surrounding area in Ohio had to be evacuated after approximately 1,500 litres of butadiene was accidentally released. Butadiene is a flammable material used in the production of synthetic rubber.
Immediately after the chemical release about 100 employees and visitors were safely evacuated and as an extra precautionary measure personnel in a one-half mile perimeter around the plant site were also told to leave. There was no immediate indication of any environmental impact or adverse affect on the residents of the neighbouring areas from the release. Officials at B F Goodrich said that operations in the plant would resume only after the cause of the release was determined and remedied.
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