# Liquid nitrogen leak kills (at least) 6 in Georgia **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 28, 2021, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709 "2021-01-28T20:06:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/1 "2021-01-28T20:06:41Z")
My first reaction was being horrified that this accident happened relatively near me (or at all). My second reaction was being horrified that nearby schools were being locked down because of fear of nitrogen in the air. > **[Liquid nitrogen leak at Georgia poultry plant kills 6, injures multiple others](https://www.wspa.com/news/liquid-nitrogen-leak-at-ga-poultry-plant-kills-6-injures-multiple-others/)** > > A liquid nitrogen leak at a northeast Georgia poultry plant killed six people Thursday and sent 11 others to the hospital, officials said. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/2 "2021-01-28T20:10:30Z")
You scoff, but has anybody _tested_ the air?!? I bet there are _ **shockingly** _ high levels of nitrogen in the air near that plant! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/3 "2021-01-28T20:37:54Z")
Did the school officials and emergency response teams know that it was a nitrogen leak? Or did they just know that something was wrong in the area and that workers were injured? If the latter, it makes sense to take precautions until they know what’s going on. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/4 "2021-01-28T20:40:08Z")
I admit when I first read the OP I though “…and how many chickens died?” but after reading the article I’m assuming the chickens arrived at the facility already deceased and ready to be disassembled. Curious if all the injuries were asphyxiation or if some involved “thermal injuries” i.e. frostbite or the like. Yeah, I’m morbidly curious. But I am feel sympathy for the injured, the deceased, and their families. Everyone goes to work expecting they’ll be going home later in the day, safe and sound. It’s tragic when it doesn’t happen that way. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/5 "2021-01-28T21:21:52Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Curious if all the injuries were asphyxiation or if some involved “thermal injuries” i.e. frostbite or the like. I confess to wondering the same but air displacement is probably more likely. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/6 "2021-01-28T21:29:04Z")
Liquid and pure gaseous nitrogen are very dangerous in confined spaces, and by some estimates have killed more people in occupational accidents than any other caustic or toxic gas. I would assume that school officials acted as indicated because the source and type of gas had not been verifiably identified. An ammonia leak, for instance, could be highly toxic and in sufficient concentration could overtake people before they had a chance to flee the area. Children are particularly vulnerable to airborne pollutants so taking precautions is sensible even if it seems like an ignorant overreaction in hindsight. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/7 "2021-01-28T21:55:21Z")
It sounds like they knew what it was all along. > **[Hall County School District](https://www.facebook.com/hallcountyschools/posts/435513867804732)** > > At approximately 10:30AM this morning, the Hall County Emergency Management Department issued a shelter in place order for Lyman Hall Elementary School due to a nitrogen leak at a nearby poultry... ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/8 "2021-01-29T00:31:34Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Curious if all the injuries were asphyxiation or if some involved “thermal injuries” i.e. frostbite or the like. > > Yeah, I’m morbidly curious. I was thinking of full on science class, rose-shattering type of terminator 2 deaths. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/9 "2021-02-01T09:37:22Z")
If there’s a major leak of toxic gas in the neighborhood (think: [Bhopal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster)) would a locked-down school be air-tight enough to be any help? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/10 "2021-02-01T12:34:17Z")
Depends on the gas, I would imagine. If it’s a gas that’s toxic in very, very small quantities probably not. Also depends on the amount, as any gas that can displace oxygen will be fatal in great enough amounts. Whether or not it’s heavier than oxygen might also matter - if it’s denser it will hug the ground, in which case evacuating to higher floors in a building might be a wise move. Unless something like wind is stirring up layers of air. So… type of gas, quantity, proximity to the school, density, weather, and probably other factors come into play. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/11 "2021-02-01T13:41:26Z")
Probably in the high 70% range. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/12 "2021-02-01T16:13:11Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > My second reaction was being horrified that nearby schools were being locked down because of fear of nitrogen in the air. Once the nitrogen cloud dissipates then yes, it’s no problem, but if you got caught in the nitrogen cloud before it dissipated, you could pass out in a matter of seconds from the lack of oxygen, and the extreme cold of the nitrogen gas could cause fatal damage to your lungs. When you have a leak/spill that big, it takes a while for the nitrogen cloud to dissipate. Keeping people away from the cloud is actually a pretty smart thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/13 "2021-02-01T16:19:13Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > When you have a leak/spill that big Is there any indication that the spill was big? Big enough to kill in a confined space is one thing, but a cloud big enough to be a risk to people thousands of feet away? That seems to be whole orders of magnitude removed. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/14 "2021-02-01T16:30:35Z")
Given the number of injuries and deaths and how many people were taken to the hospital for respiratory issues, it seems pretty obvious to me that this wasn’t just a minor leak. This was a big leak/spill. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/15 "2021-02-01T16:48:23Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > > [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > > > When you have a leak/spill that big > > Is there any indication that the spill was big? Big enough to kill in a confined space is one thing, but a cloud big enough to be a risk to people thousands of feet away? That seems to be whole orders of magnitude removed. I’m comfortable with erring way, way on the side of caution with a hazardous chemical spill when it comes to both the general public and a school full of children. Think of it less as an “over-reaction” and more of an “unplanned drill”. ---
**Author:** ![Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Levolor_the_Blind)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/16 "2021-02-01T16:56:21Z")
This incident brought back to mind bit of news (NASA techs killed by vented nitrogen): [March 19, 1981: Shuttle Columbia's First Fatalities | WIRED](https://www.wired.com/2009/03/march-19-1981-shuttle-columbias-first-fatalities/#:~:text=1981%3A%20Five%20technicians%20are%20asphyxiated,nitrogen%20purge%20of%20the%20orbiter). ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/17 "2021-02-01T17:08:27Z")
Local news article suggests at least one fatality was temperature-related, but I’d be surprised if some weren’t asphyxiated by the gas. > **[‘I’m standing with a guy who’s been frozen.’ 911 call reveals deadly horror...](https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/breaking-victims-ided-after-deadly-poultry-plant-nitrogen-leak/ITNUHYOFSNBA3GTMR4V6FHJLVI/)** > > Hall County Sheriff’s Office investigators on Friday released the names of those killed in an industrial blast at a poultry plant. The victims of the Thursday incident involving a liquid nitrogen leak at Foundation Food Group in Gainesville were five... ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/18 "2021-02-01T19:27:03Z")
I suppose I’ll just have to let it go. ---
**Author:** ![mjmlabs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mjmlabs/32/69_2.png) [@mjmlabs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjmlabs)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/19 "2021-02-09T03:13:39Z")
oof. 🙄 I want you to think about what you’ve done, young man. And change your behavior, or Elsa there will be consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709/20 "2021-02-11T08:19:36Z")
Big industrial refrigeration systems commonly use ammonia as the refrigerant. If there’d been a big refrigerant leak at the plant where I worked, it would have wiped out half the suburb. I don’t think that locking the kids in their class rooms would have helped. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-nitrogen-leak-kills-at-least-6-in-georgia/931709.md?page=2)