Pemex Deer Park Injury Lawyers
Hydrogen sulfide emissions from last week’s deadly Pemex Deer Park refinery release greatly exceeded the hourly limit intended to protect the public from the highly flammable, highly poisonous gas.
In fact, according to Reuters, a disclosure submitted by Pemex to the Texas Department on Environmental Quality indicates the October 10th hydrogen sulfide release lasted for a total of 7 hours and 40 minutes. During that time, 43,500 pounds of hydrogen sulfide gas was discharged into the air over Deer Park and Pasadena.
That’s more than 800 times the legally allowable hourly emission limit established by federal environmental regulations.
Deer Park Residents Reported Symptoms After Pemex Chemical Release: First Lawsuit Filed
The Pemex chemical leak occurred at approximately 4:40 p.m., tragically killing two contract workers. Another 35 workers were triaged on scene or transported to local medical facilities for hydrogen sulfide exposure, including 13 who remained hospitalized as of last Friday.
However, it wasn’t until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening that residents of both Deer Park and Pasadena were finally advised to shelter in place with their air conditioners off. By that time, some people living near the Pemex Deer Park oil refinery were experiencing symptoms characteristic of hydrogen sulfide exposure.
“I was getting everything ready for soccer practice and I started noticing a bad smell, so I kind of got worried,” one resident living just two miles from the Pemex refinery told Fox-26 Houston. “I noticed a cloud across from me and I realized it was something more serious, and I started hearing the sirens, so I knew it was bad.”
“While I was driving I was feeling more dizzier, when I got home I started throwing up, and I thought ‘nah it’s something else, maybe I’m getting sick’,” he continued.
Our Chemical Plant Injury Lawyers filed the first lawsuit on behalf of contractors and nearby residents injured in the October 10, 2024, Pemex chemical release. This lawsuit comes weeks after our firm reached a confidential settlement on behalf of contractors injured in the May 2023 explosion at the Shell Deer Park refinery.
See Ryan Zehl’s interviews here.
Pemex Under Fire for Lackluster Communication
While officials have acknowledged that Deer Park’s emergency alert system could have performed better last Thursday, they also faulted Pemex for a lack of communication after the incident.
Among other things, Pemex is facing criticism for failing to use the CAER notification system as intended to keep residents informed. According to media reports, while the company did post a message to the CAER website just three minutes after notifying Deer Park officials of the hydrogen sulfide leak, the notification did not mention a gas release and was interpreted by many to be a routine maintenance alert.
“We are performing activities that may cause flaring. We are taking steps to minimize any noise, light, or smoke associated with this flaring activity. At this time, we are not aware of an impact to the community or our industrial neighbors,” the full message read.
It’s still not known what caused the Pemex Deer Park chemical release. However, on Monday, the company reported that the leak occurred while maintenance was being performed on an amine regeneration unit. Initial reports indicated that the two workers died after opening a flang.
The Dangers of Hydrogen Sulfide Exposure
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a colorless, highly toxic gas recognizable by a strong “rotten eggs” odor. According to the U.S. Occupational Safety Administration, the gas is produced in a wide range of industries, including:
- Oil and gas refining
- Mining
- Tanning
- Pulp and paper processing
- Rayon manufacturing
At low to moderate concentrations (10-50 ppm), short-term exposure to hydrogen sulfide can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory system, causing symptoms like coughing, dizziness, headache, nausea, and the inability to smell. At higher levels (above 100 ppm), inhaling just a few breaths can rapidly lead to shock, convulsions, respiratory distress, and may even prove fatal. Extremely high concentrations (above 500 ppm) can cause immediate unconsciousness and sudden death.
According to statistics compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), hydrogen sulfide exposure caused 46 worker deaths between 2011 and 2017. Sadly, the Pemex Deer Park chemical release is not the first time Texas workers have succumbed to hydrogen sulfide poisoning in recent years. Most recently, in October 2022, the gas caused the tragic deaths of an oilfield worker and his wife on the northwest side of Odessa, Texas. Just a month earlier, another oilfield worker fatally inhaled H2S gas near a sump pit at a waste treatment and disposal facility near Orla, Texas.
Pemex Deer Park Chemical Release Lawyers: Call 1-888-603-3636 for a Free Consult.
In addition to being undefeated, our Chemical Plant Injury Lawyers have recovered billions for thousands of people in Texas and across the United States, including record-setting verdicts and settlements in connection with the worst industrial disasters in recent history.
If you or a loved one became ill or experienced symptoms potentially associated with the Pemex Deer Park chemical release, please call 1-888-603-3636 or click here to fill out our confidential contact form.
We’ll take the time to answer all of your questions, explain your legal rights, and ensure you have the information you need to make the right decision for your family.
The consultation is free, and because we only work for a contingency fee, you won’t owe us anything unless we win your case.