Aksa

Controversies

1999 Acrylonitrile spill

Approximately, 6500 tons of acrylonitrile leaked from an industrial polymer plant owned by Aksa Akrilik, due to pipes of storage units rupturing from the impact of the violent 17 August earthquake. Over 5000 people were affected, and the exposed animals had died. The leak was only noticed by Aksa 8 hours after the incident. Healthcare workers did not know about the health effects of acrylonitrile and tried to treat the victims with painkillers and IV fluids. One lawyer, Ayşe Akdemir, sued the company with 44 families as the plaintiffs. Aksa Akrilik was sued by 200 residents who were affected by acrylonitrile, a known human carcinogen. As of 2001, this is the largest acrylonitrile leak known.

Aftermath

Acrylamide, a decomposition production of acrylonitrile, was detected in the seawater, months after the disaster.

The catalyst 2,2'-Azobis(2-methylpropionitrile), with the solvents dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, dimethylsulfoxide and dimethylsulphone were detected in the sea waters of the affected area. Chloroform of unknown origin was also detected. Some of these compounds are toxic to the aquatic life.

In 2003, Selçuk Ergin, the manager of Aksa Akrilik at the time of the incident, has died from lung cancer related to acrylonitrile exposure. An increase in cancer cases in the area was confirmed by the Turkish Medical Association, as the cancer rate in the affected area has increased by 80%, from 1999 to April 2002.

2013 Fire

In January 2013, a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibre storage set on fire. The fire was not responded quickly and the toxic fumes spread. The combustion products included hydrogen cyanide. No deaths or injuries were reported.