Ammonia leak reported at Linz slaughterhouse

Ammonia leaked from a slaughterhouse in Linz on Wednesday morning, ORF reported. Firefighters were still searching for the leak, but said there was no danger to nearby residents.

The Linz professional fire brigade and the Ebelsberg volunteer fire brigade were alerted at about 5 a.m. The fire service said only a small amount of ammonia was escaping and that concentrations were just slightly above the limit.

Employees were also not currently at risk, although they were not allowed to enter the affected area. Police said no one had been injured, according to the latest information.

Ammonia is mainly used as a refrigerant in larger slaughterhouses and meat-processing plants, where it helps cool or freeze large quantities of meat. The colourless gas has a sharp smell and can irritate the nose, eyes and mucous membranes even at relatively low concentrations. Higher levels can severely damage the respiratory tract and, in extreme cases, be life-threatening.