RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - An explosion at a chemical plant in Japan could lead to a worldwide shortage of diapers.
The company Nippon Shokubai owns the plant that produces nearly a third of the global supply of acrylic acid, the main ingredient used in diapers.
The incident occurred Saturday at an acrylic acid residue tank and the fire spread to nearby tanks. The explosion killed one firefighter and injured 30 others.
Several online reports say the explosion could slow production of disposable diapers and possibly increase the cost.
The company says it's unclear when production at the plant will resume, however analysts say it could take about six months.
Click here to read more about the explosion and potential shortage.
