TOLEDO, Ohio — A Toledo advocacy group is demanding answers from city leaders after styrene, a chemical used to make plastics, leaked in south and central Toledo sewer systems last week.
"We smelled like, a dead skunk or something you know, when we opened the door to come out and go somewhere," said Myrtle Hill, who lives in the area.
Leaders with the Junction Coalition claim the incident caused many of the people who live and work in those areas to experience negative symptoms.
"I been experiencing headaches and nausea for like three or four days, but I never contributed to that, because nobody told us what to experience or what to expect," said Diane Johnson, who lives right up the road from the company.
"My eye is red to this day. I didn't know that possibly this could have been in association," said Kenny Boles, the safety committee chair with the Junction Coalition.
"My 10 year old, she's complaining of headaches and I didn't associate it with that," explained Hill.
However, crews with Toledo Fire and Rescue claimed last week that the spill posed no threat to the public.
Global Chemical Resources was deemed responsible for the spill, which brought a total of nine calls to crews on Friday, Nov. 6 for odor investigations in at least eight different locations.
Private Sterling Rahe with Toledo Fire and Rescue Department said styrene had spread through the sewer system in the residential area near the intersection of Nebraska and Brown Ave.
"We were getting direction again from the state EPA and the federal EPA as well as a environmental chemical clean up company that is continuing to clean up right now," said Rahe.
Rahe claimed that while the odor may have lingered, the spill posed no danger to citizens.
"If you have that smell in your house, open up the windows, air it out. If you're feeling ill and you think it's related to this, definitely call 911. Maybe just leave the area for a period of time," Rahe said. "We're not sure how long this is going to take."
That afternoon, crews worked to drain the chemical out.
The following morning, Rahe said nine different sewer locations in the area of Western Avenue and Corinth Street were flushed to remove the remaining amounts of hazardous material.
Large diameter hoses were used to flush the sewers in and around the surrounding neighborhood in an effort to aid in moving the leeched product to the water treatment plant for disposal. As this process continued, residents were advised to ventilate their homes by opening all windows and use fans if they detect an odor.
"Its under investigation. That's for the company. The investigation agencies. The EPA. Again I don't know how that happened," said Rahe.
However, neighbors say they're upset they were not notified directly of the spill and the dangers.
That's until the Junction Coalition started visiting each one this week.
On Friday, they met near the company and they want to meet with city leaders for clarity.
"We don't just want this to fester. And say, oh well it's been enough in the area and that's fine," said Boles. "No, we don't believe the information were given because they haven't been transparent."
If you are having health effects, the Junction Coalition says you can call them at 419-261-0598 or email them at ramon.junction419@gmail.com.
The following report aired Nov. 6, 2020:
