1964 American Cyanamid explosion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Date | July 6, 1964 |
|---|---|
| Location | American Cyanamid Chemical Plant, Edinburg |
| Coordinates | 41°00′52″N 80°26′12″W / 41.01444°N 80.43667°W |
| Outcome |
|
On July 6, 1964, a large explosion engulfed the American Cyanamid chemical plant in Edinburg, Pennsylvania.[1] 5 workers were killed, and the blast damaged dozens of buildings in the immediate area. The explosion resulted from the ignition of chemical materials within the facility. Emergency response efforts were complicated by the presence of toxic substances, raising concerns about potential health and environmental impacts on surrounding communities.[2]
The site of the 1964 explosion was part of a longstanding chemical and explosives manufacturing complex near Edinburg in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The origins of the facility date back to the early 20th century, when explosives worker Job Burton founded the Burton Powder Company in 1903 to manufacture dynamite for mining and construction.[3] After a series of several accidental explosions,[4][5] the company was acquired by American Cyanamid, a major U.S. chemical conglomerate that produced fertilizers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and, at the Edinburg site, nitroglycerin-based explosives. Under Cyanamid’s ownership, the plant expanded to encompass hundreds of acres with numerous mixing houses, laboratories, and its own internal rail system.