More than 400 people go to hospital after gas leak in Manaus A resident who lives about a kilometer from Innova Unit 4, in the Industrial District of Manaus, where the styrene monomer leak occurred last Wednesday (15), told g1 that the population living around the factory has never received any guidance on how to act in the event of chemical accidents involving the industry. The leak was recorded at 5:36 pm on Wednesday (15), following an abnormal rise in the temperature of the styrene monomer stored in a tank at Innova Unit 4. This Sunday (19), teams from the Amazonas Fire Department (CBMAM) continue cooling the styrene monomer storage tank. Domestic worker Rosivete Ferreira, 63, said that she only discovered that there was a risk of an incident of this type after the leak. She reported that she began to experience symptoms hours after the incident, including nausea, headache, eye irritation, tightness in the throat and shortness of breath. ? Join the g1 AM channel on WhatsApp When asked by the report if she had already received information about safety procedures or guidance for residents of the region in the event of a chemical emergency, Rosivete replied: “I didn't even know that could happen.” She reported that, to try to reduce exposure, she kept doors and windows closed for part of the day. "I felt nauseous, very sick, a tightness in my throat and a headache. My eye felt like it was full of pepper, burning too much. When I opened the house I still felt that smell. I preferred to keep everything closed until noon. Then I started turning on the air conditioning and it went away. Until the evening I still had symptoms", he reported. g1 asked Innova what guidance actions regarding chemical incidents were directed to residents of the area close to the factory before and after the spill. The report also asked whether the Emergency Response Plan (PAE), which, according to the company, was activated shortly after the incident, provides for specific communication and guidance procedures for the population living around the unit. Until the last update of this report, there was no response. The report contacted the Government of Amazonas to find out which state bodies are responsible for monitoring or supervising guidance measures aimed at communities located close to industries that work with dangerous chemicals. The Superintendency of the Manaus Free Trade Zone (Suframa) was also asked whether it monitors or demands that companies located in the Industrial Pole adopt these prevention and communication measures. The two bodies had not yet commented. Firefighters and health agents mobilize to contain a gas leak that has lasted 3 days in the Industrial District of Manaus Jornal Nacional/ Reproduction Symptoms after leak In addition to Rosivete, other residents and workers near Innova reported to g1 that they had presented symptoms after the leak. Among them is truck helper Luiz Ferreira, who works at a company neighboring the factory. He stated that co-workers fell ill during work hours, but the company's activities were not interrupted. "People started running to the bathroom. When I got home I also felt sick. I had a headache and diarrhea", he said. The reports describe symptoms compatible with the effects of exposure to styrene monomer pointed out by the head of the Chemistry Department at the Federal University of Amazonas (Ufam), Karime Bentes. According to the expert, the substance is toxic and inhalation can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, as well as headaches, dizziness and nausea. The researcher further explained that styrene is stored in liquid form, but it evaporates quickly and, when it becomes a gas, it can spread over great distances. She also warned that, depending on the concentration of the substance in the atmosphere, rain can react with the product and form harmful compounds and liquid styrene, increasing the risk of environmental contamination. The incident The styrene monomer leak was recorded at 5:36 pm on Wednesday, at Innova Unit IV. The strong odor of the chemical was noticed in neighborhoods close to the Industrial District and led to the immediate evacuation of a shopping mall located close to the company. Styrene monomer is used in the manufacture of plastics, synthetic rubbers and expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam). According to experts, exposure to the product through inhalation can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, as well as headache, dizziness and nausea. Since the incident, teams from the Amazonas Military Fire Department (CBMAM) have been working to cool the tank to control the temperature and avoid new risks. The main hypothesis investigated by the corporation is a spontaneous reaction inside the structure.