CSB doubles injury estimate at US plant explosion

25 January 2008 16:02  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Investigators from the US' Chemical Safety Board (CSB) now estimate that 33 people were injured as a result of a powerful explosion at a fuel additive plant in Jacksonville, Florida, more than double its initial assessment, the group said on Friday.

Initially, it was believed that 14 people were injured as a result of the explosion, which occurred on 19 December at T2 Laboratories. Investigators did not change its earlier figure of four people killed.

The CSB released the new estimate after it completed its initial field investigation of the explosion.

The board's preliminary findings indicate the explosion was caused by a chemical reaction that occurred while the plant was making methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl, a gasoline additive.

By: Al Greenwood
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