Chemical accident caused sodium cyanide leak in Walsall canal, says company

A “chemical accident” has led to toxic pollution on a 19-kilometer-long section of canal in the West Midlands, the company involved said.

Anochrome Ltd, a specialist in surface coatings and sealants, said the incident “unfortunately” resulted in chemicals being released into the Walsall Waterway in the early hours of Monday morning.

Marc Lidderth, West Midlands regional director at the Environment Agency (EA), said the release of sodium cyanide into water was “unacceptable” and that any breaches would result in decisive action being taken.

People were urged to approach a long stretch of the canal network from the centre of the borough to Birmingham and the connected waterways in Wednesbury, Tipton and West Bromwich.

When the chemical entered the waterway in Walsall, it was confirmed to release sodium cyanide, which can cause seizures, vomiting and unconsciousness.

Anochrome said it immediately notified the EA and Severn Trent Water following the incident.

“Our management team has been and remains on site and is working closely with all relevant authorities and agencies to minimize and contain the oil spill,” it said.

The company added that it has provided all facilities, including in-house laboratory testing facilities, to the authorities and agencies.

“The safety of our community and the environment is our top priority. We are focused on limiting the impact of this incident and will provide further updates as they become available,” it said.

Speaking to BBC Midlands Today, the EA's Mr Lidderth said Anochrome Ltd, which describes itself on its website as an “environmentally conscious organisation”, is regulated by the EA.

He said it was believed that sodium hydroxide and “possibly zinc” had also entered the canal.

“It is unacceptable that this has entered the watercourse and we are currently investigating what the actual cause of this is and why it entered the canal system from their location,” he added.

Walsall City Council previously confirmed that the source of the spill had been identified and stopped.

Conservation experts said the consequences of the oil spill would be devastating. A couple on a narrowboat said they had been stuck on the canal since Monday because they were unable to pass through the locks due to water testing.

“We are currently testing all points in the affected area and will review the results as soon as they are available,” said Nadia Inglis, Walsall Council’s acting director of public health.

“We will lift these restrictions and hopefully reduce the size of the potentially affected area where we are confident there is no health risk.”

The exclusion zone markings run from the lock staircase in Walsall to the lock staircases at Rushall/Ryders Green in the borough and Perry Barr in Birmingham.

Sodium cyanide is soluble in water and can have serious adverse health effects if humans or pets come into direct contact with it, the council warned.

A spokesman for the authority added that anyone who was exposed to the water and felt unwell should seek medical advice via the NHS emergency number 111 or call 999 in an emergency.

People living in boats on the canal in the affected area have been informed about the oil spill, the Canal and River Trust said.

Dr Inglis added: “Our primary objective was to keep the public safe and protect their health and wellbeing.

“Given the nature of the substance, we are proceeding with caution to protect our community until we know it is safe to reopen the towpaths.”

• The chemical sodium cyanide is a white crystalline solid with a faint almond odor
• It is used in industry for metal cleaning, coating and extraction
• When cyanide salts are swallowed, cyanide is released into the body. Absorption through the skin is also possible.
• Exposure may cause symptoms such as headache, nausea, dizziness, loss of consciousness, seizures and vomiting.
• It can quickly cause death if inhaled or ingested because it impairs the body's ability to use oxygen.

(Source: British Health Security Agency)

Dr Delia Garratt, chief executive of the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, said the oil spill would have a devastating impact on wildlife.

She added that she hoped those responsible would face the full force of the law.

“Environmental watchdogs must be empowered and adequately resourced to ensure they can monitor and control polluters and punish those who violate the law,” she said.

Boater Daisy Hampshire, 55, who spends her summers on the canals, said she was angry and sad.

“It's part of our heritage. It's been here for 200 years and after 200 years it's still here,” she said.

“As long as someone is held accountable – the floaters are a great community – we will come together and start over.”

She was in the area this weekend for the Brownhills Canal Festival and is currently unaffected by the oil spill.

However, the Narrow Boat Trust, which was supposed to take part in the festival with two historic boats, has decided not to take part because it would be difficult to return in time due to the canal's exclusion zone.

Bruce and Lauris Crook, 72 and 70, originally from New Zealand, have been unable to pass through the canal locks in Rushall, Walsall, since Monday.

“We have registered with the Canal and River Trust as an interested party and they will let us know when they are happy for the boats to resume sailing,” Crook said.