We cant be sure what chemicals are in the Texas plant that exploded

[applegrove]

By Vice News Aug 31, 2017

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=post&forum=1002&stop=1

"SNIP.........

At least 15 people have checked into the hospital after breathing in black smoke from a chemical plant explosion in Crosby, Texas, on Wednesday. But because of a lack of environmental regulation, they might not know exactly what they’ve inhaled.

The plant — one of global chemical giant Arkema’s facilities that stores organic peroxides used to make plastics, rubbers, and explosives — flooded as Hurricane Harvey dumped trillions of gallons of rain across Texas. The water knocked out the backup power keeping the volatile chemicals cool, which later caused an explosion sending up thick plumes of black smoke.

The city evacuated people within a 1.5-mile radius around the plant in preparation, but law enforcement didn’t have the luxury of staying away. As of Thursday morning, 15 police officers had checked into a local hospital after spending time near the site. And unfortunately, they didn’t have documents to tell doctors what chemicals they may have inhaled. Instead, the hospital had to rely on statements from Arkema.

That’s because plants in Texas aren’t required to tell the public what chemicals they work with. In 2014, following an explosion at a fertilizer plant in West Texas that killed 15 people, Texas’ then-attorney general and now Gov. Greg Abbott decided that facilities wouldn’t have to disclose the chemicals they use to the public anymore.


...........SNIP"

[procon]

1. Profits or public safety? ☠️ Hmm... I dunno... tough decision... ☠️ nt

[HeartachesNhangovers]

2. I think this is somewhat misleading.

I worked at an air quality regulating agency in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 25 years, during which we had several petroleum refinery explosions and fires - the Bay Area has 5 full-scale petroleum refineries - and in none of those events, was anyone in a position to say what was in any of the smoke plumes.

In fact, if anyone tells you: "There is no risk from breathing the fumes from that fire / explosion / accidental release", they are lying.

Standard advice: Stay inside, close your windows and turn off any ventilation from outside - whatever it is, it isn't going to do you any good. That's just common sense. People are designed to breathe air and nothing else.

[BootinUp]

4. The chemists from that facility know

a good bit more than they are saying. Your standard precautions are good as a backup plan though.

[juxtaposed]

3. organic peroxides

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_peroxide

[Danascot]

5. Not just burning peroxides.

I've been looking around to see whether burning organic peroxides produces toxic smoke. It sounds like some do and others don't but someone else who know more than I could have a more informative answer. However, beyond the peroxides themselves the fires could be burning plastic, insulation, even metal if the fire is hot enough. At this point no one knows for certain what other things might be burning but those materials could well be producing toxic smoke. Plus there are apparently a number of other chemical plants and refineries in the area besides the Arkema plant that store hazardous substances that could be released or catch fire.

[moondust]

6. Abbott blames terrorism.

Last night I heard his explanation for not disclosing the chemicals. He said it was to prevent terrorists from finding out which chemicals are stored where, noting that Timothy McVeigh used fertilizer ingredients for his explosion in OKC.

Have other states taken similar precautions? If not, how many problems have they had with terrorism because they didn't hide the chemicals?

The chemical lists should at least be readily available to public health and safety personnel who could easily be cautioned against releasing the lists to the general public.