Sulfur Dioxide Tampa Bay: Fumes Leak From Fire Causes Residents Told Stay Indoors, If Inhaled Could Harm Lungs, Eyes, And Cause Premature Death

Sulfur dioxide in Tampa Bay caused police to instruct residents to get indoors briefly because of chemical fumes coming from the Port of Tampa around 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Tampa Bay Fire Rescue Spokesman Capt. Lonnie Benniefield told reporters that the chemical was produced Thursday morning when firefighters poured water onto a small blaze in a silo containing sulfur in the Port of Tampa. Winds then carried the smell of the sulfur dioxide into the downtown area, which cause the temporary evacuation within the city.

Benniefield also said that sulfur dioxide can be harmful if someone is in an enclosed area, but is not as harmful in the open air, so as a precaution, officials asked people to stay indoors to avoid possible irritation to their lungs and eyes in the Tampa Bay downtown area.

"Tampa Fire Rescue has extinguished a small fire in a silo that caused the chemical fumes. The situation is under control and all fumes have dissipated," Tampa police said on their Facebook page.

Sulfur dioxide is a toxic gas with a pungent, irritating smell, that is released by volcanoes and in various industrial processes. Since coal and petroleum often contain sulfur compounds, their combustion generates sulfur dioxide unless the sulfur compounds are removed before burning the fuel.

Inhaling sulfur dioxide is associated with increased respiratory symptoms and disease, difficulty in breathing, and premature death. It is colorless and odorless and can hurt those with asthma especially.

The soutside of downtown Tampa, Channel Side and Harbor Island were the areas where they have to stay indoors.

When the workers tried to fix the original problem, a mix of clouds and water caused the problem not to be solved. This then created the sulfur dioxide fumes. It took place a plant that is used to create fertilizer.