A spillage of more than 100 gallons of sulphuric acid on a busy road servicing the Cork Harbour area was quickly contained and posed no threat to health, a spokesman for Cork County Council said yesterday. However environmental groups expressed their concern.
According to the spokesman, the spillage occurred when four 40-gallon drums containing 96 per cent pure sulphuric acid broke free on board a truck as it was approaching the Shannon Park roundabout near Carrigaline at about 10.15am yesterday and spilled on to the road.
According to the spokesman, two of the drums emptied while the other two only partially spilled. Council environmental staff estimate that more than 100 gallons of the acid, which can cause burns, spilled on the roadway.
Three units of Cork County Fire Service from Carrigaline and Crosshaven were quickly on the scene and specialised splash suits with breathing apparatus were worn while the spillage was being contained.
However, Mary O'Leary of Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment (Chase) said the incident gave rise for concern about the competency of the regulatory authorities to prevent and deal with a major spillage.
"In another situation, it could be far worse and it raises questions about the competency of the regulatory authorities charged with ensuring that chemicals are transported securely."
The consignment was on its way from Carbon Chemicals in Ringaskiddy and the company, when it learned of the incident, provided the fire service with some 30 bags of soda ash to neutralise the acid.
Carbon Chemicals confirmed that a team of chemists from the company had also attended the scene to advise on the containment operation and said the consignment was intended for industrial use but declined to say where the consignment was destined for.