Three people were exposed to hydrochloric acid Friday morning after a hose used to transport hydrochloric acid burst at a Middle River aircraft facility, county fire officials said.
Fire crews were called to Middle River Aircraft Systems shortly before 11 a.m. on the 100 block of Chesapeake Park Plaza for a report of an explosion, said Capt. Bruce Schultz, a spokesman for the fire department.
Two people were transporting hydrochloric acid from one container to the other, Schultz said. Once they were done, they had to flush the hose. At that point, something happened that caused the hose to burst, and they were sprayed with the acid, he said.
Both men were wearing protective suits, but one was not wear respiratory gear, according to Schultz. He was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.
The other person refused medical treatment, Schultz said. A third person at the building also breathed in fumes, but refused medical treatment.
Although the 911 call mentioned an explosion, no explosion occurred at the building, said Rick Kennedy, spokesman for Ohio-based GE Aviation, which owns Middle River Aircraft Systems.
According to the National Institutes of Health, breathing in hydrochloric acid can cause choking, chest tightness, rapid pulse and other symptoms.
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