Washington, D.C.-The Fertilizer Institute strongly doubts any danger to residents from fertilizer-soaked soils, as reported by a Chesapeake, Va., TV station, from last November’s release of 2 million gallons of liquid nitrogen from a collapsed storage tank. The station claimed even though an intensive cleanup effort has been underway a lab found soil from one yard in the South Hill neighborhood contained 30 percent levels of what it mistakenly called ammonium nitrate, which it said was mildly toxic. Those results, TFI Vice President of Scientific Programs Bill Herz told Green Markets, raise some skepticism. “It seems hard to understand because when you get up to such levels there may be some analytical interferences,” he suggested, noting that if the station would go back for another analysis that figure would come down. But the good news, according to Herz, is that through findings from TFI’s product testing program and other incidents that have occurred with urea ammonium nitrate being released, the toxicity is extremely low. He added, “Actually there is more to worry about ?Ǫ with the worst scenario being digging up the soil and replacing it. Luckily, this is a very benign compound which may require some soil cleanup. In fact, too much nitrogen would prevent growing anything. But from a human health standpoint, it’s not a huge concern.”
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