Three taken to hospital after fridge explosions

THREE people were rushed to hospital after two separate cases of fridges exploding in the Lothians.

By The Newsroom Wednesday, 19th January 2005, 12:03 pm

Firefighters were called to deal with an ammonia leak after a fridge blew up in Edinburgh University buildings last night - three hours after they attended an identical incident at a West Lothian health centre.

One woman was taken to hospital at the Whitburn surgery after getting ammonia in her eye, while two people at the university were treated for inhaling the chemical.

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The fridges are thought to have exploded either as a result of leaking ammonia reacting with the air, or because of overheating.

A fire brigade spokeswoman said it was "highly unusual" to have two incidents of exploding fridges in one day. "We do occasionally get calls to ammonia leaks from fridges, although they are not regular and don’t usually occur more than once a month. To get two incidents in one night is very strange," she said.

"Fortunately, it does not appear that anyone was seriously injured and firefighters successfully handled the incidents."

The first explosion happened at around 5pm at the Whitburn Health Centre in Weaver Lane.

A female employee is thought to have got ammonia in her eye after going to investigate. She was taken to St John’s Hospital in Livingston.

Firefighters removed any danger from the chemical leak by leaving the fridge in the open air.

Shortly before 8pm, a fridge exploded at Kenneth McKenzie House in Richmond Place, near the Pleasance.

The house, which has eight bedrooms, is used by Edinburgh University to accommodate visiting professors and other guests.

A male and a female visitor at the house suffered ammonia inhalation and were taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. They were released later last night.

Firefighters wearing gas-tight suits and gas masks entered the evacuated university building and removed the fridge. They took the appliance outside, because the danger from ammonia is significantly reduced in the open air.

Neither Edinburgh University or NHS Lothian, which runs the health centre, were able to comment this morning.

The fire brigade spokeswoman said the causes of the leaks is unknown, but said fire officers would not be holding investigations.

Ammonia poisoning is not thought to be-life threatening but exposure to high concentrations can cause severe burns on skin, eyes, throat, and lungs.

In extreme cases, blindness, lung damage or death can occur, but breathing lower concentrations only causes coughing and nose and throat irritation.

At standard temperature and pressure, ammonia is a gas with a characteristic pungent smell. Its main uses are in the production of fertilisers, explosives and polymers.

The chemical is very well suited as a refrigerant, as it liquefies readily under pressure, and was used in virtually all refrigeration units prior to the advent of freon gasses.