"exposing as little as 1% of a person's skin to HF (about the size of one's hand) can lead to death. When inhaled, HF can fatally damage lungs, disrupt heart rhythms, and cause other serious health effects."
"Torrance Refinery had an enormous explosion, and a piece of equipment the size of a bus came within five feet of the hydrofluoric acid, causing a near miss,"
"We've been working to get rid of it."
Residents and advocates gathered to demand a ban on the chemical used at the Torrance oil refinery, citing potential mass-casualty disaster risks. Hydrofluoric acid is used in about 40 gasoline refineries across the United States; exposing as little as 1% of skin to HF can be fatal and inhalation can fatally damage lungs and disrupt heart rhythms, according to the National Resources Defense Council. The Torrance Refinery uses modified hydrofluoric acid (MHF), which the refinery calls safer but activists dispute. Advocates warn an MHF release could cause irreversible health effects within 6.2 miles. A 2015 explosion released flammable hydrocarbons, injured four workers, and forced 14 schools into lockdown.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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