The document summarizes a styrene gas leak incident that occurred in May 2020 at an LG Polymers plant in Vizag, India. Styrene is a flammable and toxic chemical used to produce plastics and resins. The leak occurred when stored styrene was not at the appropriate cold temperature, causing a pressure buildup that ruptured a valve. Over 5,000 people were exposed to the gas, with 11 deaths and over 1,100 hospital admissions reported. The response involved plugging the leak, evacuating nearby areas, and using other chemicals to reduce temperatures and solidify the spilled styrene.

1. LG Polymers-Vizag-AP
Gas Leakage May 2020

2. Incident time-7th May 2020
2:30 AM to 4:00 AM
Styrene- (C6H5C2H3 ) Gas leakage
LG Polymers- Vizag –Andhra Pradesh

3. What is styrene -C6H5C2H3?
• It is a flammable liquid.
• According to The Manufacture, Storage and Import of
Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989- styrene is classified
as a toxic and hazardous chemical.
• Styrene is also found in vehicle exhaust, cigarette
smoke, and in some natural fruits and vegetables.
• Styrene monomer was used at the manufacturing plant
to produce expandable plastics.

4. Common Uses for Styrene :
As a polystyrene plastic
As a Fiber glass
As Synthetic rubber
As a Ion exchange resin

5. PAST Incidence of LG Polymer company :
• In 2000, a reactor blast shook the
surrounding villages but there were
no casualties reported.

6. What caused the leak ?
• The storage requirement of styrene monomer strictly mentions that it
has to be below 17 degrees Celsius.
• There was a temporary and partial shutdown of the plant because of
the nationwide lockdown due to COVID 19.
• The leak happened because the gas was not
stored at the appropriate temperature,
causing pressure to build up and break
the valve,

7. How is it controlled ?
• The leak has been plugged and NDRF teams moved into the
five affected villages and have started opening the houses to
find out if anyone was fainted inside.
• The Covid-19 preparedness helped a lot as dozens of
ambulances with oxygen cylinders and ventilators
were readily available.
• The spread of the gas depends on wind speeds and
direction So far it is estimated that areas within a 5-KM
radius have been
affected.

8. PTBC – para-tertiary butyl catechol
• It is principally used as an
antioxidant, stabilizer, and to
inhibit polymerization of styrene
• The NDRF had flown 500 kg of
PTBC from Gujarat to Vizag (AP) to
bring down the temperature by
Solidifying the liquid to lower the
temperature.

9. What happens when styrene exposed to air ?
• It is, likely, a carcinogenic substance that can react with oxygen in the
air to mutate into styrene dioxide, a substance that is more lethal.

10. What are the symptoms?
• A short-term exposure: headache, weakness, fatigue, irritation in the
eyes, respiratory problem, irritation in the mucous membrane, and
gastrointestinal issues, difficulty in concentrating.
• A long-term exposure: could drastically affect the central nervous
system and lead to other related problems like peripheral neuropathy
• At high concentration: unconsciousness and even death.

11. Health Impact due to this incidence :
• 11 Death
• 50 found unconscious on road/ near by area
• 1100 admitted
• 5000 exposed
(As per local media )

12. Health Impact due to this incidence :

13. Environment Impact:

14. After the Bhopal disaster, much legislation was enacted starting from the Environment
(Protection) Act-1986 to the Public Liability Insurance Act -1991. They are-
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
Omnibus act, which gives sweeping powers to Central government to take all measures to protect
the environment
Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986
Set discharge and product standards – source standards for restricting pollution; product standards
for manufactured goods and ambient air and water standards – for regulating quality of life and
environmental protection
Hazardous Waste (Management Handling and Trans boundary Movement) Rules,
1989
Industry required to identify major accident hazards, take preventive measures and submit a report
to the designated authorities
Manufacture, Storage And Import Of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989
Importer must furnish complete product safety information to the competent authority and must
transport imported chemicals in accordance with the amended rules.
Chemical Accidents (Emergency, Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, 1996
Centre is required to constitute a central crisis group for management of chemical accidents; set up
quick response mechanism termed as the crisis alert system. Each state is required to set up a crisis
group and report on its work.
Factories Amendment Act, 1987
Provision to regulate siting of hazardous units; safety of workers and nearby residents and
mandates for on-site emergency plans and disaster control measures
Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
Imposes a no-fault liability on the owner of hazardous substance and requires the owner to
compensate victims of accident irrespective of any neglect or default. For this, the owner is
required to take out an insurance policy covering potential liability from any accident.

15. GAIL Pipeline blast –
Nargam village -
Godavari- Andha
Pradesh.
-23 killed , 18 injured
-Fire 1 KM Radius
2014-June
Container depot leakage
at Tughlakabad-Delhi
-Rani Jhansi Sarvodaya
Kendra school’s 310
student admitted
2017-May
Kanpur Ammonia-UP
lekage
-Potato cold storage
Facility blast
-4 killed, 15 injured
2017-March
Bhilai steel plant -
Chhattisgarh.
-Methane gas lekage
-6 killed, 40 afftected
2014-june
Litmus Organic Pvt Ltd
-Ratnagiri Bombay
-14 hospitalized
-ammonia lekage
2018-Dec
Bhopal Gas Tragedy
-Union carbide Ltd
-45 tones of MIC
Leckage
-3787 died on the spot
-15k-20k later death
1984- Dec
TOXIC GAS LEAKAGE- HORIZONTAL TIMELINE
HPCL-Visakhapatnam
-LPG lekage during
receipt of LPG cargo
from a pressurized ship
-six storage tank fired
blast
-56 killed in blast
1997-Sept

16. TOXIC GAS LEAKAGE- HORIZONTAL TIMELINE
Kumar Industries -
Vatva- Ahmedabad
-Ammonia lekage
-14 admitted
2016-Nov
Nira Nimbut-Pune
-Acetiic anhydride
leakage-blast
-42 hospitalized
2019-April
LG polymer –Vizag –
Andha Pradesh
-Styrene lekage
-10 dead
-1100 admitted
-5000 affeted
2020-May
Next
?
Next
?
Next
?
Pimpri –chickenwad -
Pune
-Chlorine Lekage
-20 admitted
2011-Jan