Hazardous Materials to the First Responders: the General Public - Research Paper Example

1. The lethal concentration of a substance in humans obtained from animal studies can be expressed as Lethal Concentration = LC50 × weight 2. The concentration of 8% by volume of carbon monoxide is equivalent to (100 parts of air × 8 parts of CO)/1000000 parts of air = 80,000 parts of CO = 80, 000ppmv. 3. The biological warfare agent that is not matched up correctly with its adverse health effect is Brucella melitensis causing diphtheria because it causes fatigue, loss of appetite and other symptoms. 4. Oxygen is carried throughout the body in the bloodstream on hemoglobin. 5. A situation that can produce ammonia odors at a fire incident without a leak from a storage tank is the storage of fertilizers at the scene. 6. The concentration of nitrogen dioxide coming from an inhalation exposure lasting 3-5 minutes that would exhibit tightness in the chest is 80 ppm. 7. The chemical that produces eye tearing, irritation and discomfort of exposed skin, irritation of the mucous membranes, and a general discomfort at approximately 175 ppm is ammonia. 8. The chemical with the correct Immediately-Dangerous-To-Life-And-Health Level (IDHL) is fluorine at 25 ppm. 9. Hydrogen sulfide, 2.4 is the one that does not match the DOT shipping name with its proper label code. 10. The health effect manifested when an injury or disease occurs only after an extensive period is a latent health effect. 11. Management of Hazardous Chemical in a Domestic Transportation Mishap Identification of the chemical commodity would be based on the shipping details and chemical sample tests. The DOT requires the shippers of hazardous materials to comply with the labeling, marking and placarding requirements for identification of toxic substances (Meyer, 2010). As a result, the hazmat team would check the description on the labels, markings, and placards in order to identify the compound. The identification would be based on either the hazard class 2.3 or 6.1 on the shipping paper or the label for POISON Inhalation Hazard. A white POISON GAS placard or a white POISON INHALATION HAZARD placard displayed on each side, and each end of the vehicle transporting the toxic substance is also critical to the identification process. The substance poses a health hazard by inhalation and is classed in Hazard Zone A or Zone B is. 5lb is a small leakage, and it occurs at 2.00am. Therefore, using the Emergency Response Guideline, the material is a compressed gas, toxic and categorized as POISON Inhalation with Hazard Zone B, thus has an isolation distance of 30m. The protective action zone is 0.2 km and 0.8 km in daytime and nighttime respectively. Being the accident happens at night, the chemical commodity has a protective action zone of 0.8km. On arrival at the scene, the hazmat team would manage the situation by using the recommended procedures when responding to the transportation accidents involving release of a poisonous gas from non-bulk packaging (Meyer, 2010). They would first determine if there is any release of the substance, of which occurs due to leakage. Though flammable, the material is not on fire allowing the team to check if the release is massive in size. The protective action distance would then be determined, and unauthorized persons evacuated accordingly before calling the experts to come and attempt to repair the cylinder. It is imperative to note that barrels on fire require cooling from a distance whereas those not exposed to fire require determination of the products of combustion and protection of the property (Meyer, 2010). The proper type of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be used depends on the toxicity of the substance. Since the material is toxic, the emergency rescue crew needs appropriate protective clothing that would prevent skin contact. Such clothing includes impermeable coveralls or fully encapsulating body suit, head coverings, gloves, and self-contained breathing apparatus. A fully encapsulating body suit minimizes or eliminates the risk of exposure to the substance by both inhalation and skin contact (Meyer, 2010). 12. The South Carolina Accident The accident involved two Norfolk Southern trains on January 6, 2005 leading to spillage of massive quantities of chlorine (www.ens-newswire.com). A freight train carrying 42 cars of which three were loaded with chlorine was diverted by a wrong track-switch hitting a parked train at a crossing near the Avondale Mills textile plant in Graniteville, South Carolina. At the time of the accident, one car began to leak chlorine. This accident resulted in death of 9 people that included six workers at the plant, the train engineer, a person in a nearby home, and another person in the parking lot near the factory. In addition, about 300 people were hospitalized for chlorine inhalation and 5400 residents evacuated within 1 mile from the site. Chlorine is a greenish-yellow gas characterized with a pungent smell. It is highly corrosive, highly toxic and explosive with particular mixtures such as chlorine and hydrogen. It reacts with many metals such as alkali metals on heating. On humans, its irritating and choking smell caused cough, eye irritation and breathing difficulties among people who were around the scene. The spillage that drained into the nearby pond also killed fish. In response to this accident, the residents within 1 mile were ordered to leave the area, and a temporary polyethylene patch was used to prevent further leakage. Sodium hydroxide was also used to mop up the chlorine. In order to prevent more casualties, a curfew was imposed within 2 miles from the site till January 14 when chlorine was removed from the tanker. One employee of the Avondale Mills witnessed the incident and informed his supervisor to release other employees due to the prevailing danger. Such an action is a wake-up call that there is a need to provide information about hazardous materials to the first responders, particularly the general public to make decisions to save lives. Reference Meyer, E. (2010). Chemistry of hazardous materials. (5th Ed.). Brady Publishing http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2005/2005-01-10-04.html Read More