ConAgra plant disaster releases toxic ammonia to environment

Today's explosion at the ConAgra plant in Garner just south of Raleigh killed at least two people and injured more than 40 others. It also resulted in the release of ammonia to a tributary of Big Branch Creek, which flows into the Neuse River.

Speaking at an 11 p.m. press conference, a Garner fire department captain reported there had been a "small ammonia release" to the tributary on the plant's property at 4851 Jones Sausage Rd. An earthen dam has been constructed at the spot where the release occurred, and the company and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are monitoring downstream, he said.

There were also reports following this morning's explosion of a strong ammonia smell around the facility.

The plant manufactures Slim Jim meat snacks. Meat processing operations often use for a refrigerant anhydrous ammonia, a regulated toxic substance under various federal environmental laws.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration considers ammonia a high health hazard because it is corrosive to the skin, eyes, and lungs. It's also flammable at concentrations of greater than 15% by volume in air and can explode if it's released in an enclosed space with an ignition source, or if a vessel containing anhydrous ammonia is exposed to fire.

Breathing ammonia can cause coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, laryngitis, headaches, fever, nausea, vomiting, pink frothy phlegm, chest pain, asthma, rapid pulse, and increased blood pressure, according to the National Library of Medicine.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board, a federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents, has sent a team to the site of the explosion.