TEXAS CITY, Texas – A brief sulfur dioxide leak at BP’s Texas City refinery caused a Level 1 alert for surrounding communities.
The city said just after 10 a.m. sulfur dioxide leaked out of a stack uncontrolled. The leak only lasted for a few seconds, according to a spokesman for Texas City Emergency Management.
The city said there was no immediate threat to the community, but the air quality was monitored afterward.
Just after the leak occurred, a Level 3 alert was issued for the plant, and workers were evacuated. The Level 3 was later reduced to a Level 1, and workers were allowed to return.
Sulfur dioxide can caused respiratory problems and death, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
