ATTLEBORO -- About 10 to 15 gallons of a chemical solvent used in a degreasing machine leaked at a downtown metal engraver Wednesday, shutting down the plant and an appliance sales firm below it for most of the day.

Cleanup crews spent much of the day at the site at Automated Finishing at the corner of County and Wall streets, and are expected to return to the site to continue their work today, Deputy Fire Chief Ed Greve said.

The solvent, which the state Department of Environmental Protection called Trichloroethane, was absorbed into the wood flooring on the second and third floors of the plant, Greve said.

In high levels, breathing Trichloroethane can cause dizziness and lightheadedness, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances Web site. Those effects rapidly disappear once a person stops breathing contaminated air. Breathing in much higher levels can cause unconsciousness and a decrease in blood pressure.

The first floor of the building is occupied by Lambco Appliance Sales and Service at 34 Wall St. It is unknown if any of the chemical leaked to the first floor, but Greve said the flooring at Lambco is concrete, which is less absorbent. The leak was caused by a faulty gasket on a third-floor degreasing unit, Greve said. The owner of Automated Finishing reported the leak to the fire department around 6:30 a.m.

About 15 Automated Finishing employees and about six Lambco employees were evacuated while fire, health and DEP officials evaluated the scene, Greve said.

Automated Finishing finishers were allowed to work on the second floor.

Lambco was still doing business, but weren't allowing customers in the store's showroom, Greve said.

DEP has preliminarily determined that the solvent does not threaten the environment, agency spokesman Joe Ferson said.