Acid Leak at a Chemical Plant in La Habra, California

At an industrial complex in La Habra, Los Angeles County, California, an acid leak occurred from storage tanks containing nitric acid and phosphoric acid. The acidic chemicals continued to evaporate, forming a large, yellow-orange, irritating mist that spread toward nearby residential areas carried by the wind. This type of acidic mist is highly corrosive; it can irritate the respiratory tract and cause skin burns. Once it settles, it seeps into the ground, contaminating the soil and threatening groundwater as it percolates through the soil with rainwater.