Health Advisory: Information on Methyl Methacrylate (MMA)
A hazardous materials incident in Garden Grove has led to mandatory evacuation orders due to the potential release of Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) a highly flammable and potentially toxic chemical commonly used in plastics, coatings, and manufacturing.
Evacuation boundaries were established using modeling scenarios to ensure public safety that include modeling of a potential on-site explosion. Everyone within the designated evacuation zone is urged to comply with these orders until authorities confirm it is safe to return.
Emergency teams are focused on keeping the liquid MMA stored in the special enclosed tanks in a stable temperature range to prevent further reaction and vapor production. Cooling and containment operations are ongoing. Air quality officials have deployed multiple stationary and mobile air monitors and have not detected any contaminants in the air to date.
Exposure is not expected as long as evacuation orders are followed. If you are exposed to MMA, you may or may not develop health effects. Those with underlying medical conditions or experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, throat or eye irritation or vomiting may need to be seen by a medical professional. Call the California Poison Control System at 1-800-222-1222 if you are experiencing symptoms and need to speak with an expert about how to proceed.
Full Advisory: Health Advisory: Information on Methyl Methacrylate (MMA)
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