Environmentalists fear massive damage

They feared that the leaked ammonia gas would eventually find its way into the nearby water bodies, River Karnaphuli and the Bay of Bengal. Muhammad Edris Ali, associate professor, department of chemistry of Hazi Mohsin College, Chittagong said the diffusion rate of ammonia gas was higher than other chemical compounds. “Ammonia is also a highly corrosive chemical compound. The aquatic environment and microorganism will be in peril if it is getting mixed with pond, river and sea water,” said the reacher who is also an expert on River Karnaphuli. “The pH level in the water will mark a rise. Therefore, the firefighters should be careful so that no untreated sprayed water could find its way into the nearby water bodies,” suggested the environmentalist.