An explosion on July 5 at Ming Dih Chemical Co. Ltd., located on the outskirts of Bangkok, killed at least one person, injured dozens more and damaged scores of homes. Local authorities evacuated a wide area over fears of poisonous fumes and the possibility of additional denotations.
According to an AP News story, police questioned the factory manager in their investigation of the cause of the explosion, who told them that he and eight staff members were woken from their sleep on the site by a strong chemical smell and fled just before the blast, said Maj. Gen. Chumpol Poompuang, the district’s police commander.
Ming Dih Chemical Co. manufactures expandable polystyrene. According to ABC News, styrene monomer, a hazardous liquid chemical used in the production of disposable foam plates, cups and other products, can produce poisonous fumes when ignited. The chemical itself also emits styrene gas, a neurotoxin, which can immobilize people within minutes of inhalation and can be fatal at high concentrations.
