Hospital chemical spill under investigation

Kalispell medical center improperly dumped antifreezelike substance into city sewer system on Oct. 27

Kalispell Regional Medical Center improperly put an undetermined amount of a chemical used in antifreeze into the city's sewer system in late October, but at this time there are no known health risks or harmful effects on the sewer system as a result.

State, city and hospital officials are investigating the incident, which occurred Oct. 27 and was reported Oct. 30 to Montana's Department of Environmental Quality.

However, the various investigators had not consulted with each other as of Wednesday. Consequently, each has an incomplete picture of what happened.

Earlier this year, during routine maintenance of its heating and cooling system, the hospital flushed out and accumulated a large amount of an antifreezelike fluid. The dumped fluid's chief chemical component is propylene glycol.

Three or four years ago, the hospital had received the city's OK to pour a small amount of that fluid - likely one barrel or less - into the city's sewer system, according to Jim Oliverson, the medical center's vice president for community relations.

On Oct. 27, the hospital again poured the fluid into the sewer system, incorrectly assuming that past permission for dumping a small amount would apply to dumping a larger amount of the same liquid, Oliverson said.

"Everyone here, frankly, feels really bad about it," Oliverson said.

The volume of the dumped chemical is still being determined, but "It was a significant amount," according to Jim Hansz, Kalispell's public works director.

Estimates being considered by different investigators range from 20 gallons to a few thousand gallons.

Propylene glycol is a clear, colorless, odorless, slightly syrupy liquid used in antifreeze and de-icing solutions, and in solvents in the painting and plastics industries. It also is an ingredient for food coloring and flavoring. And it is used to create artificial smoke in firefighting exercises and theatrical productions.

When added to food, it is generally considered safe, according to the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's Web site. If taken in large amounts, propylene glycol can increase the amount of acids in the human body, the Web site said.

The chemical breaks down after several days in the soil or in water.

Propylene glycol probably is not harmful in a sewer system, although the yet-to-be-calculated volume will be a factor in making that determination, said Scott McCollough, an environmental enforcement specialist with Montana's Department of Environmental Quality.

However, if the chemical collects in puddles on the ground's surface, it poses a threat to animals, he said.

The dumped chemical is suspected in creating an unusual smell and suds at the city's sewage treatment plant, Hansz said. The city tested the sewage plant's effluent and found higher-than-normal concentrations of a phosphate-based compound, which is part of the dumped antifreeze-like fluid, Hansz said. However, the increased chemical concentrations did not exceed any state-mandated limits on the plant, he said.

The hospital will offer to pay for any extra costs the city incurred because of the incident, Oliverson said.

It is unknown at this time whether the dumping is a violation of state law, McCollough said.

Reporter John Stang may be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at jstang@dailyinterlake.com