On April 22, 2026, a chemical release of hydrogen sulfide occurred at a silver catalysis plant owned by Ames Goldsmith Corporation in Institute, West Virginia, killing 2 workers and injuring 30, including one in critical condition. A chemical reaction during the decommissioning of a tank created hydrogen sulfide.
Background Institute is home to the historically-Black West Virginia State University and multiple chemical plants, which have had a number of chemical incidents in their history and has caused concern from environmental justice advocates.
A previous chemical explosion in Institute in 2008 killed 2 and injured 8.
The plant the disaster occurred at had a history of safety incidents, including two spills of nitric acid within a month in 2013, a federal workplace safety violation in 2018, and had released 1,310 pounds of nitric acid into the air from 2014 to 2024.
Incident Workers were decommissioning a tank and hydrogen sulfide was created when the chemicals M2000A and nitric acid were mixed, causing a "violent reaction" that "instantaneously overcame" the workers. 2 were killed and 30 others were sent to the hospital, including 1 in critical condition.
Aftermath The Kanawha County school district ordered a shelter-in-place for multiple schools in the area, as did West Virginia State University. They were later lifted. Local officials said the site was in the process of shutting down due to the incident.
See also Buffalo Creek flood Upper Big Branch Mine disaster Willow Island disaster
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