"There has never been a threat to the community," say officials after the leak of Y-12

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WVLT) – All nuclear material is safe and site personnel resume normal operations after authorities at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge report that an incident occurred on Thursday morning.

According to the first information received, the incident would have occurred at 7:52 am Thursday morning, after sensors had indicated a possible release of fluoride hydrogen in a treatment chamber. No injuries were reported and the evacuees were transferred to another building at Y-12 until the emergency personnel declared the area safe.

Officials with Y-12 made the following statement.

"Appropriate protective measures have been taken for employees of Y-12 who are near the incident and who do not participate in the emergency response. 39; incident did not have an impact on the public. "

According to the poison control center, hydrogen fluoride is a liquid or gaseous chemical that creates strong fumes and can cause severe burns on contact. Inhalation of this chemical can cause heart and lung problems.

However, hydrogen fluoride is safe in small amounts. Traces are found in the air, and it is added to tap water for dental health.

Y-12 officials held a press conference on Thursday at 10 am on the chemical leak. They said the leak was completely contained in an enclosure. No employees were exposed to the chemical and no threat was posed to a community.

The leak occurred inside an enclosure whose size is about the size of a dressing room. The purpose of the enclosure is to protect workers from hazards in case of leakage. Senators who measure chemicals at parts per million inside the enclosure have alerted the personnel of the leak.

It is not clear exactly how much chemical has been released.

Operations resumed normally at the Y-12 plant, shortly before 10 am.