Two police officers and two employees of a trucking company in South Plainfield were taken to an area hospital as a precaution after a container believed to be filled nitric acid was found leaking and smoking on, authorities said. NJ.com reported that, “Various state, county, and local officials responded to Jimmy’s Trucking on South Avenue when the spill from a trailer was found around 6:45 p.m.,” South Plainfield police said.
Business workers were evacuated from the building and local area residents were urged to stay inside. Authorities are still investigating what caused the spill.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says nitric acid is a colorless liquid with yellow or red fumes. It has an unpleasant odor and is highly corrosive. Exposure to it can lead to irritation to the eyes, skin and mucous membrane. The CDC says, “It can also cause delayed pulmonary edema, pneumonitis, bronchitis, and dental erosion.”
