Alert in place after sulfur dioxide leak at BP's Texas refinery

HOUSTON, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- A sulfur dioxide leak at BP's refinery in Texas City in the U.S. state of Texas led to the issue of an alert for surrounding communities on Wednesday, local media reported.

Sulfur dioxide leaked out of a stack uncontrolled at the refinery at about 10 a.m. local time, according to the local TV channel KHOU.

The leak only lasted for a few seconds, according to a spokesman for Texas City Emergency Management.

Shortly after the leak occurred, a Level 3 alert was issued for the plant, and workers were evacuated, the report said.

The Level 3 was later reduced to a Level 1, and workers were allowed to return.

Sulfur dioxide is a toxic gas that can caused respiratory problems and death, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Texas City refinery is the site of an explosion in March 2005 that killed 15 people and injured scores of others.

BP announced earlier this month it has reached a deal to sell its Texas City refinery to Marathon Petroleum Corporation for 2.5 billion U.S. dollars. Enditem

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