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Oxygen tank break prompts hazmat scare at UPMC Mercy Hospital

PITTSBURGH — An oxygen tank leak outside of UPMC Mercy Hospital early Tuesday morning prompted a hazmat crew to respond to the facility.

Emergency workers said they were called when an oxygen tank began leaking around 1 a.m. Officials said a valve on one of the tanks broke in the parking lot.

Hospital officials said they temporarily stopped accepting patients in the emergency room while the problem was fixed.

During the break, the tank was still able to feed the appropriate amount of oxygen into the building, officials said.

Hazmat workers said the valve had deteriorated because of age.

Hospital officials said no one was in danger during the incident.