More than 400 people go to hospital after gas leak in Manaus The Amazonas Military Fire Department (CBMAM) reported, this Sunday (19), that it contained the leak of toxic styrene monomer gas recorded in Unit 4 of the company Innova, in the Industrial District of Manaus. After three days of work, a committee formed by state bodies, in addition to the Superintendence of the Manaus Free Trade Zone (Suframa) and the Amazonas Regional Engineering and Agronomy Council (Crea-AM), decided to allow the return of activities in industries in the Industrial Pole, state schools and public services from this Monday (20). According to the general commander of CBMAM, Colonel Orleilso Muniz, measurements carried out at the site indicated that there is no longer any emission of styrene gas. "At this moment we have not found any residue of styrene gas either in the surroundings or within the isolated area. We have zero emissions from the affected tank", he stated. Despite the containment, the Fire Department will continue working at the factory to keep the tank cool. According to the commander, the work to remove the stored product and deactivate the structure could take months. With the committee's decision, state schools that had their activities suspended in the Industrial District region will resume classes this Monday (20). The Citizen Emergency Service (PAC) Studio 5 also returns to normal operation. Industries in the Manaus Industrial Complex that had interrupted activities as a precaution are also authorized to resume operations. The director-president of the Amazonas Environmental Protection Institute (Ipaam), Gustavo Picanço, informed that the agency monitored the entire operation alongside the Fire Department. On Saturday (18), teams used a drone with a thermal camera to monitor the temperature of the tank. Even with the release of activities, Ipaam informed that it will continue to monitor the company's work. The body will continue to monitor air quality, analyze the effluents generated, monitor the disposal of remaining waste and verify compliance with the conditions of the company's environmental license. More than 500 consultations due to symptoms According to the State Department of Health (SES-AM), between Wednesday (16) and Sunday (19), 552 consultations were recorded by people with symptoms compatible with possible exposure to styrene. Only one patient remained hospitalized in the state network until this Sunday. The secretariat informed that it will continue to monitor services and advises the population to seek a health unit or call the Mobile Emergency Care Service (Samu), by calling 192, in case of symptoms related to exposure to the gas. On Saturday (18), a 60-year-old man died after being admitted to a private unit with respiratory problems. According to SES-AM, the cause of death will be investigated by the Death Verification Service (SVO), with monitoring by the Amazonas Health Surveillance Foundation (FVS-RCP), to determine whether there is a relationship with exposure to styrene. Another patient, aged 67, died on Wednesday (16), after seeking care with reports of feeling unwell. According to the secretariat, there was no direct relationship between the death and the leak, as he had a history of chronic respiratory disease. On Sunday (19), firefighters continue to cool the tank where a gas leak occurred in Manaus Jadson Lima/g1 AM Manaus City Hall reported that a drone equipped with thermal cameras identified a fissure in the tank's containment basin and verified that the leak was continuing. After the inspection, the Municipal Institute of Urban Planning (Implurb) partially closed the industrial unit. Innova was fined more than R$22.4 million. The City Hall imposed two fines, totaling around R$9.9 million, for air, soil and water pollution. The Amazonas Environmental Protection Institute (Ipaam) fined the company R$ 12.5 million for violating environmental legislation due to the air pollution caused by the incident. On Friday (17), the superintendent of the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) in Amazonas, Francinete Lima, informed g1 that Innova maintained production at the factory uninterruptedly for at least 48 hours after the leak to empty the tank where the incident occurred. According to her, the company informed the agency that the product stored in the damaged reservoir continued to be used in the production process to speed up the emptying of the structure. 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. Toxic gas leak in Manaus has already left 414 people injured and warns of environmental damage reproduction JN