CANTON — The Canton Fire Department responded to and contained a liquid nitrogen leak at a laboratory on Dan Road Friday morning.
According to a statement from Canton’s Fire Chief Wendell Robery, firefighters were called to 45 Dan Road at 10:08 a.m. on Nov. 7 after a leak was reported inside the building.
When Canton fire crews and the Massachusetts Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Division arrived on scene, the building had already been evacuated.
No injuries were reported.
Investigators later determined the leak was caused by a malfunctioning relief valve on a 60-gallon dewar tank containing liquified nitrogen. The tank was moved to the rear parking lot, cordoned off, and safely emptied.
Hazmat investigators and Canton fire personnel checked the building to ensure it was safe before employees were allowed to return inside.
Emergency crews cleared the scene by 12:26 p.m., while Deputy Chief Andy Morgan remained on-site until a chemical company truck arrived to remove the tank.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection was notified of the incident, but officials said the environmental damage was “determined to be minimal” since the Earth’s atmosphere naturally contains about 78 percent nitrogen.