Sixteen people have been hospitalised following a spillage of nitric acid at Mulhuddart village in north county Dublin this morning.
James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown confirmed that sixteen people had been admitted this morning, complaining of sore throat and breathing difficulties.
Fourteen of those have been discharged, with two remaining at the hospital for observation. Nitric acid is a highly caustic substance, chiefly used in the manufacture of fertilisers, explosives and dyes.
Gardaí have interviewed the driver of the vehicle involved in the incident, and the vehicle itself is currently being inspected at Blanchardstown Garda Station. It has also been confirmed that the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has begun an investigation into the incident.
Earlier, residents of the Wellview, Drumheath and Parlickstown housing estates had been advised to stay indoors to avoid coming in contact with the substance, particles of which can become airborne if released. The Gardai have now lifted this restriction.
The spillage occurred shortly before 10 a.m. at the Church Road roundabout in Mulhuddart when some containers fell from an articulated truck and broke open. Eyewitness reports have indicated that a number of the 16 drums of materials being transported fell through the side of the truck.
Gardaí are advising motorists to avoid the village this evening, the entry and exit routes to which remain sealed off. The area is not expected to be made safe for drivers until later this evening.
Visitors to Damonstown Industrial Estate are advised to enter via the Clonee entrance, and entrance to Castlecurragh can be gained via Blanchardstown Road North.
Today's spillage is the second such incident that has occurred in Mulhuddart in the last month. On May 15th, the exit road to the M50 was sealed off following a spill which happened due to a two-vehicle accident. Nitric acid was also released in that incident.
Meanwhile, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, has responded to an earlier call by the Labour Party's Ms Joan Burton and Mr Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party, to review the arrangements for the carriage of chemicals in the area.
In the statement, the Department indicated that the carriage of dangerous goods was "highly controlled by regulation"."The HSA will carry out an investigation into the incident - we will await the outcome of the incident before deciding whether changes to leglislation for the transport of such chemicals are required," the statement concluded.