STATEMENT ON CHLORINE GAS RELEASE FROM OLIN CORPORATION PLANT IN FREEPORT, TEXAS
STATEMENT ON CHLORINE GAS RELEASE FROM OLIN CORPORATION PLANT IN FREEPORT, TEXAS
Issued by Climate Conversation Brazoria County
May 20, 2025
We are deeply concerned about this morning’s chlorine gas release at the Olin Corporation facility in Freeport, which resulted in shelter-in-place orders for the cities of Clute and Lake Jackson, as well as all Brazosport ISD campuses. While the leak has since been contained and the emergency orders lifted, the fact that a level 3 release occurred—meaning the gas escaped beyond the facility—should alarm all residents of Brazoria County.
Chlorine gas is a highly toxic substance. According to the CDC, exposure can lead to serious health effects including difficulty breathing, coughing, nausea, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Children, the elderly, people with asthma or other respiratory conditions, and pregnant individuals are especially vulnerable. The release of any chemical, especially one as hazardous as chlorine—into the surrounding community should never be treated as routine.
This incident underscores the urgent need for a real-time, community-centered toxic alert system in Brazoria County. Communities deserve timely and accurate information about the health risks they face when chemical disasters occur. Despite years of advocacy, residents still remain in the dark during industrial emergencies—relying on social media, word-of-mouth, or inconsistent emergency notifications.
We also want to highlight that this is not an isolated incident. Communities in Brazoria County live in daily proximity to petrochemical plants, storage terminals, and chemical manufacturing units. Yet, they are rarely informed in advance of the potential risks or included in decision-making about safety protocols, permitting, or emergency response planning.
Climate Conversation Brazoria County is in contact with residents and will continue to monitor this situation closely. We call on TCEQ and local emergency management to release full details about the cause of the leak, the duration of the release, and any environmental monitoring results. Most importantly, we call for structural change: transparent reporting, enforceable safety measures, and full community inclusion in chemical disaster preparedness.
We urge residents to stay alert to symptoms of chlorine exposure, and we call on public health officials to provide immediate access to medical care and information for those affected.
This incident is yet another wake-up call. We cannot afford to normalize chemical disasters. Our communities deserve safety, transparency, and accountability.
For questions or press inquiries, please contact Climate Conversation Brazoria County at info@climateconversationbc.org.
