Chemical leak from truck raises temporary concern

EAST BRUNSWICK - A chemical leak forced authorities to declare that employees of several businesses shelter in place and prompted the closure of Edgeboro Road earlier this week.

The leak, coming from a drum inside a tractor-trailer, was detected by employees of Yellow Freight, Edgeboro Road, at 12:20 a.m. Tuesday. Authorities responded and found the leak coming out of the truck and reacting with a concrete apron on which the trailer was parked. The mixture caused a vaporous cloud.

The vapor prompted local and county emergency management officials, working with the East Brunswick Independent Fire Co., to order all overnight businesses in the area to shelter in place, police said. However, no evacuation was necessary. The air in the vicinity was monitored by the Middlesex County Hazardous Materials Unit and representatives of the state Department of Environmental Protection, which found no health hazards in the air.

Due to the location of the leaking drum and truck, responders had a difficult time confirming what the substance was, but later gained access and found that it was 3-dimethylaminopropylamine, which is used in the production of textiles. The leak was contained and the situation under control by 6 a.m.

Authorities kept Edgeboro Road closed until 6:30 a.m. as a precaution.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the leak is under investigation.

Numerous agencies responded in addition to those mentioned above, including East Brunswick police, South Old Bridge Fire Hazardous Materials Unit, East Brunswick Rescue Squad, Milltown Rescue Squad, Robert Wood Johnson Paramedics and South River's police and emergency management officials.