UPDATE | 12 February, 3.45pm
Auckland Council staff working to clean-up a chemical incident in South Auckland are focusing on the safety of water in the area, and damage to marine life.
Approximately 5,000 litres of methyl methacrylate was released from storage at the specialist chemical business Allnex in Penrose yesterday.
The chemical has gone into a stormwater drain, and into the Manukau Harbour.
Staff have visited 40 nearby businesses, to make sure they know what happened. At this stage no health issues have been raised with them.
We estimate about a hundred junvenile tuna (eel) have been found dead in a stream in the area, and staff are assessing what other impact the chemical may have had on marine life and vegetation.
They are also testing the harbour water. The warning not to swim or go into the water remains and will be extended over the weekend as a precautionary measure.
20 tons of discharge including water was taken away overnight, with the Auckland Council’s pollution control team continuing to work cleaning-up the Allnex site and surrounding area.
Representatives of mana whenua are on site and will be providing input into the clean-up process.
The investigation into how the incident happened is continuing.
ORIGINAL STORY | 11 February
Approximately 5,000 litres of methyl methacrylate was released from storage at a specialist chemical business on Industrial Road in Penrose earlier today.
Auckland Council staff, including environmental health and pollution experts, have been at the scene since it was reported. They are working with Fire and Emergency NZ, and have been consulting with Auckland Regional Public Health.
Methyl methacrylate is a chemical used in the manufacture of plastics and adhesives. While the chemical is considered to have low toxicity, it can cause nasal irritation and headaches and has an acrid and fruity odour.
Auckland Regional Public Health Service’s Medical Officer of Health Dr David Sinclair says although the health risk is currently assessed as low, people should take a precautionary approach and close doors and windows if they can smell the chemical. The main potential health effects are eye, skin or respiratory irritation.
“To avoid experiencing the unpleasant smells and any potential irritation, we advise people in the wider Penrose and Onehunga area to consider closing doors and windows.
“If you work in this industrial zone you may also need to keep doors and windows closed tomorrow too.
“If you have any further concerns, please contact Healthline on 0800 611 116 for advice,” Dr Sinclair says.
The chemical has gone into a stormwater drain, and into the Manukau Harbour.
Auckland Council’s Manager of Environmental Health Mervyn Chetty says warning signs are being put up in the area, and the Safeswim website is also telling people not to go into the water five kilometres from the spill – which covers Mangere Bridge, Taumanu East, Taumanu Central, Taumanu West and Onehunga.
Auckland Council is currently investigating the circumstances around the incident.
