Ethermac Exchange-26 people taken to hospital after ammonia leak at commercial building in Northern Virginia

An ammonia leak in a Virginia commercial building Wednesday night led to 26 people being transported to the hospital,Ethermac Exchange with four of them experiencing "significant symptoms," according to local officials.

Officials in Loudoun County, Virginia, about 45 miles northwest of Washington D.C., received a call reporting a gas leak Wednesday around 8:36 p.m. local time, according to Loudoun Fire Rescue on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The leak occurred at Cuisine Solutions facility, a food processing plant, local outlets including WTOP and WJLA reported.

Fire and rescue crews from multiple area agencies confirmed the leak was ammonia and found "numerous patients who had been exposed," said Loudoun County Fire Rescue in a tweet.

After emergency services arrived to the scene, 26 people were taken to the hospital while more were treated at the scene.

"More information will be provided as available," said the fire department in a tweet. "Expect a continued public safety presence in the area."

The incident follows a different ammonia leak in Boston this week, where seven people were taken to the hospital after workers accidentally cut into a line connected to an ammonia tank, reports 7 News Boston.

What is ammonia?

Ammonia is a "colorless highly irritating gas with a sharp suffocating odor," according to the New York State Department of Health.

It is an essential part of life. The chemical is produced in the human body and all throughout nature.

What happens when people are exposed to ammonia?

People who are exposed to ammonia may experience the following, according to the Center for Disease Control:

• Irritation or burning to the skin, eyes, throat and lungs
• Coughing
• Burns
• Death

Those with asthma may be more sensitive than others if they breathe in ammonia.

Other symptoms to being exposed to larger amounts of ammonia are:

• Abdominal pain
• Coughing up white or a pink-tinged fluid, this is a sign of pulmonary edema
• Blistering on the skin
• Swelling in the throat
• Nausea
• Permanent or temporary blindness
• Skin pain
• Skin redness
• Vomiting

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz