Ten survivors exposed to toxic acid used to make VINEGAR file $1m lawsuit against Texas chemical plant after explosion kills two and injures 30

The survivors of a chemical leak at a Houston-area plant filed a $1million lawsuit alleging 'gross negligence' in failing to warn employees about the dangers of the materials they worked with, as authorities identified two who died in the incident.

Mike Lopez, an employee of the LyondellBasell chemical plant in La Porte, Texas, and nine others filed suit in Harris County court on Thursday after Lopez said he may be disfigured as a result of being exposed to the toxic substance.

Two contractors were killed and 30 were taken to local hospitals for evaluation and treatment, the company said. 

Of those, it said 27 had been released as of Wednesday afternoon. 

LyondellBasell said that about 100,000 pounds of a mixture primarily made of acetic acid, which is used to make food-grade vinegar, was released in the leak that started Tuesday evening at its La Porte Complex. 

The LyondellBasell chemical plant in La Porte, Texas is pictured above on Tuesday after an explosion caused a leak of a toxic chemical compound. Two people died and 30 were injured

Mike Lopez, an employee of the LyondellBasell chemical plant in La Porte, Texas, filed suit in Harris County court on Thursday after he says he may have been disfigured as a result of being exposed to the toxic substance

The acid burns skin and is toxic when inhaled. It also was mixed in with other compounds that cause fluid to build up in the lungs. 

The company said the 'all clear' was given early Wednesday, and that the leak had been isolated and contained.

The company said air monitoring was ongoing and hasn't shown 'actionable levels.'

Two contractors - Dustin Day and Shawn Kuhleman - died in the leak. News of Lopez's lawsuit was reported by the Houston Chronicle. 

Authorities responded to reports of an incident at the LyondellBasell Industries plant in La Porte at around 7.35pm Tuesday. 

Officials with the city's Office of Emergency Management said a 'process upset incident' sparked a chemical release at the plant which makes polyethlene products. 

It is also the world's third-largest producer of glacial acetic acid, a food preservative that is flammable and corrosive.  

Mike Lopez, an employee of the LyondellBasell chemical plant in La Porte, Texas , and nine others filed suit in Harris County court on Thursday after Lopez says he may have been disfigured as a result of being exposed to the toxic substance

Two of those injured were taken to a hospital, five were treated at the scene and 31 were monitored for possible symptoms, officials said. 

In his lawsuit, Lopez says he had to 'flee for his life' when the acid began spewing out of a burst cap on a pressurized line.

He suffered severe mental distress as well as physical injuries that may leave him disfigured, he says.

'Plant explosions cause some of the most horrific industrial injuries we encounter, and they are often exacerbated by injuries workers sustain while trying to flee to safety,' said Kurt Arnold, an attorney representing Lopez, told the Chronicle.

The other plaintiffs named in the lawsuit who suffered injuries are Ariel Mata, Peter Martyr, Nayahl Martyr, Ricardo Sanchez, Christopher Davila, Joseph Chavis, Jonathan Daniel Alanis, Xavier Argueta, and John Castillo. 

The leak was isolated and Harris County Pollution Control conducted air monitoring, but there was no apparent threat to the community.  

'There is no shelter in place or other protective actions being recommended for the La Porte community at this time,' La Porte EMS said in a statement.  

Two people were killed following a chemical leak at a LyondellBasell Industries plant in La Porte, Texas, on Tuesday which officials described as a 'mass casualty'

Authorities responded to the plant in La Porte, outside Houston, at around 7.35pm Tuesday

LyondellBasell addressed the incident in a statement on Tuesday night. 

'At approximately 7:35 p.m., on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, our La Porte Complex located on 1515 Miller Cut-Off Road, experienced an acetic acid leak,' it read. 

'Our on-site incident response team responded quickly, and the leak is stopped. Emergency responders from the City of La Porte and Channel Industries Mutual Aid are on scene.

'Two individuals sustained fatal injuries in this incident. Four individuals sustained burns and are being transported to receive medical treatment. We are working closely with responders to confirm all employees are accounted for.

'Air monitoring demonstrated no levels of concern for the community. The safety of our workers and those who live and work near our facilities is our first priority.'

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo wrote on Twitter: 'Heartbroken to hear of the two fatalities at the Lyondell Basell facility in La Porte.

'Our county and other first responder agencies are working to support the other workers impacted and to verify that the incident is contained. Grateful to all responders.' 

The plant (above in a file photo) is the world's third-largest producer of glacial acetic acid, a food preservative that is flammable and corrosive