Acid leaks from semitractor-trailer at Farmington Hills-Livonia border
A hazardous materials crew was working Monday night to clean an acid spill after a semitractor-trailer leaked a potentially dangerous chemical near the border of Livonia and Farmington Hills.
Both cities' fire departments responded to the incident at about 5 p.m. Monday, according to a social media post by the city of Farmington Hills. Officials said a tractor-trailer was leaking ferric chloride onto the street on Middle Belt Road, just south of Eight Mile Road.
According to the federal National Library of Medicine (NLM), ferric chloride is a noncombustible orange to brown-black solid. It is used to treat sewage, industrial waste, to purify water, as an etching agent for engraving circuit boards and in the manufacture of other chemicals.
It can be harmful if swallowed and can cause burning or irritation to the skin or damage the eyes, according to the NLM. It can also be harmful to aquatic life.
The Western Wayne Hazardous Materials Response Team was activated and technicians wearing specialized "Level A" hazmat suits, which offer full-body protection, entered the trailer and stopped the leak, officials said.
The city said cleanup by the trucking company was expected to take hours and crews were still at the scene as of 9:14 p.m.
mreinhart@detroitnews.com
@max_detroitnews
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Acid leaks from semitractor-trailer at Farmington Hills-Livonia border
