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911 dispatchers in Kanawha County are reporting that there has been an explosion at the Bayer Cropscience Plant in Institute. This Bayer institute is produce “Methomyl”. Witnesses reported seeing a red fireball and feeling a blast as far away as Charleston, after an explosion was reported at the Bayer Crop Science Plant in Institute at 10:35 p.m. Thursday. The explosion was heard at least as far away as Mink Shoals.

One Bayer employee has been transported to a burn center in Pittsburgh and another is still missing, said Bayer official Mike Wey. Earlier reports that one person had been killed could not be confirmed.

The chemicals involved in the explosion were dimethyl disulfide, methylisobutylketone and hexane, a Bayer official told Kanawha County officials at about 1:30 a.m. All three are “harmful irritants,” according to information provided to Kanawha officials.

The three are used to make methomyl, which is a highly toxic pesticide, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It was not clear if any of the pesticide escaped.

Methomyl is classified as Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) by the Environmental Protection Agency because of its high acute toxicity to humans. Restricted Use Pesticides may be purchased and used only by certified applicators. Reentry periods for farm workers of 1 to 7 days are required, depending on the crop. Check the product label for details.

“Methomyl” was introduced in 1966 as a broad spectrum insecticide. It is also used as an acaricide to control ticks and spiders. It is used for foliar treatment of vegetable, fruit and field crops, cotton, commercial ornamentals, and in and around poultry houses and dairies. It is also used as a fly bait. Methomyl is effective in two ways: (a) as a ‘contact insecticide,’ because it kills target insects upon direct contact, and; (b) as a ’systemic insecticide’ because of its capability to cause overall ’systemic’ poisoning in target insects, after it is absorbed and transported throughout the pests that feed on treated plants.

“Methomyl” is potentially a highly poisonous material in humans. It is highly toxic if it is ingested or absorbed through the eyes, moderately poisonous when inhaled, but of lower toxicity with skin, or ‘dermal,’ exposure. Methomyl is a highly toxic inhibitor of cholinesterase, an essential nervous system enzyme.