Texas Chemical Explosion: 10 Years Later, Risk of Repeat Remains High

Ten years after the tragic Texas chemical explosion that killed 15 people and injured 260 others, federal officials and chemical safety advocates warn that not enough regulatory changes have taken hold to make the U.S. any safer today from similar explosions than it was a decade ago. The explosion was triggered by 50 tons of fertilizer-grade ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer that’s highly combustible and the key culprit in the West blast. Many residents still struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, despite years of therapy.