1. Emergency and Disaster Response to Chemical Releases Chemistry Awareness Module 3

2. Overview Chemicals have been used for many purposes in homes, business, and industry. Today with the added threat of terrorist activity utilizing these chemicals as CBRNE agents, the potential for human exposure is even greater. Responder knowledge of chemical hazard classes, chemical terms and terminology used relative to hazard classes and basic chemical hazard awareness is necessary.

3. Terminal Learning Objective Participant will be able to identify potentially hazardous situations and conditions involving corrosives, solvents, oxidizers, reactives and CBRNE agents.

4. Enabling Objectives List the primary health hazards associated with acids and bases. Describe the basic treatment for skin and eye exposure to chemicals. Identify materials that are incompatible with corrosives. Define flashpoint and how it relates to flammable range. List acute and chronic effects of solvent exposure. Define explosive. List some military chemical agents.

5. Introduction People may become complacent and careless around chemicals when used on a daily basis. Never assume the hazards of a particular chemical are known without verifying the information.

6. Potential Hazardous Chemicals Labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) are the responder’s first line of defense to protection from chemical exposure. Labels and MSDSs provide personnel with essential information about the hazards of the chemical. This is only true for the chemicals known to exist on the disaster site or at the response scene. Unknown CBRNE agents or unknown industrial chemicals must be identified before appropriate protection for the responder can be determined.

7. Physical and Chemical Properties Recognizing the potential threats from toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) and toxic industrial materials (TIMs) is an important skill for the responder. Responders need to have the skills and abilities to: Read reference materials. Interpret information found in the references. Compare the hazards of TICs and TIMs to CBRNE agents. Use information obtained to develop a safe work plan.

8. Physical and Chemical Properties Freezing point Boiling point Melting point Vapor pressure/volatility Flammable range LEL UEL

9. Flammable Range Lean Flammable Range of Cyclohexane LEL 1.3 %UEL 8.0 % Rich

10. Physical and Chemical Properties Specific gravity Vapor density

11. Corrosive Class Chemicals Corrosives are the second most commonly used and transported group of hazardous materials. A corrosive material is defined as “any liquid that has a severe corrosion rate on steel” (DOT) or damages living tissue (EPA).

12. pH Scale 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 AcidBase Strong acids increasing H ions Strong bases increasing OH ions + - Neutral

13. pH Range pH ranges from 0 - 14 Acids low pH number (below 7) high concentration of H + ions Bases high pH number (above 7) low concentration of H + ions

14. Corrosive Hazards and Protection Destroys living tissue. Momentary exposure to strong acid or base will cause damage. Bases can “numb” the senses, thus may go unnoticed and increase the damage. Chemical burns are nine times more damaging than thermal burns.

15. Corrosive Hazards and Protection Corrosive vapors can cause external and internal injuries. Corrosive dusts can cause external and internal injuries. Do not wear contact lenses when working with acids and bases.

16. Treatment for Skin Exposures Flush skin to remove and dilute corrosive. Use large quantities of water. Apply water with little or no force. Do it immediately !

17. Treatment for Skin Exposures Keep flushing even though the burns are painful. Remove affected clothing. Keep eye lids open to flush the eyes. Continue flushing for at least 15 minutes. Get medical help to treat victim for burns.

18. Protecting Against Skin/Eye Exposures Wear PPE Protect tissue most commonly exposed: Nose - throat - airway Feet Face Eyes

19. Vapor Hazards Fuming liquids are actually spontaneous vapor producers. Mists or vapors may cause severe irritation to the respiratory system. Inhalation may cause bronchitis, chronic inflammation or damage to the upper respiratory tract and lungs.

20. Vapor Hazards The extent of the injury is dependent upon: The concentration of the acid or base. The quantity of acid or base involved. The body area affected. The duration of the contact.

21. Hazardous Mixtures Corrosives and poisons Toxic vapors. Corrosives and Ignitable Materials Many possible reactions depending on chemicals. Some corrosives are oxidizers.

22. Hazardous Mixtures Corrosives and water Violent reaction. Generation of heat. Production of a vapor cloud. Over-pressurization of container. Corrosives and metal Destruction of metal, perhaps the corrosive container. Production of hydrogen gas.

23. Solvents Chronic health hazards Acute health hazards Adverse effect on the environment Ozone depletion Some are flammable

24. Solvent Hazards There must be an oxidizer to promote burning. There must be fuel (something to burn). There must be an ignition source.

25. Acute Effects of Inhalation Irritation of mucous membranes and respiratory passage Nausea Headaches and drowsiness Muscular weakness Loss of coordination Disorientation and confusion Unconsciousness and sometimes death

26. Acute Effects of Skin / Eye Contact Removal of skin oils resulting in irritation Cracking and rashes on skin Dermatitis Burning and irritation of eyes

27. Treatment for Solvent Exposure Wash skin with soap and water. Flush eyes with water for 15 minutes. Ventilate area. Give CPR to victim if needed, but do not put yourself in danger.

28. Oxidizers An oxidizer is a material that will stimulate the combustion of organic materials.

29. Oxidizers Types Gaseous Cryogenic Inorganic Oxidizers intensify combustion or the burning process.

30. Water Reactive Hazardous Materials Lithium Sodium Potassium Magnesium Calcium

31. Metals that are part of alloys containing carbon (organometallic compounds) Hydrochloric acid Sulfuric acid Water Reactive Hazardous Materials

32. Unstable Materials Organic peroxides Monomers Unstable is defined as any material that will spontaneously decompose, polymerize, or self- react under conditions of shock, temperature, or pressure.

33. Explosives Igniter Primer Detonator Booster charge Main charge Some basic components of an explosive: EXPLOSIVES

34. Classifying Explosives 1.1 Explosives with mass explosion hazard 1.2 Explosives with projection hazard 1.3 Explosives with predominately fire hazard 1.4 Explosives with no significant blast hazard 1.5 Very insensitive explosives 1.6 Extremely insensitive explosive articles

35. Military Chemical Agents Three broadly grouped categories: Casualty agents Irritant agents Psychochemicals Nerve Agent Antidote

36. Classes of Agents Nerve agents Blister agents Choking agents Blood agents Irritating agents

37. Classes of Agents Incapacitating and Riot Control Agents Incapacitating and Riot Control Agents Toxic Industrial Chemicals Chemical Warfare Agents Choking Agents Choking Agents Blood Agents Blood Agents Blister Agents Blister Agents Nerve Agents Nerve Agents

38. Nerve Agents Four of significance: Tabun: GA Sarin: GB Soman: GD VX (not an acronym; V represents venom and X represents other materials composing the agent.)

39. Nerve Agents Symptoms of Exposure Central Nervous System Autonomic Nervous System Neuromuscular Respiratory arrestSweatingWeakness DisorientationDiarrheaTrembling Slurred speechNauseaParalysis DepressionAbdominal painRespiratory failure Respiratory depressionVomiting HeadacheReduced vision ConvulsionsPinpointed pupils ComaDrooling

40. Nerve Agents Common Name AbbreviationCAS #NFPA 704UN ID#Hazard Class TabunGA77-81-64,2,128106.1 SarinGB107-44-84,1,128106.1 SomanGD96-64-04,1,128106.1 V agentVX50782-69-94,1,128106.1

41. Nerve Agent Detection Detection clues for nerve agents are limited because they resemble water or light oil without any characteristic odor. The most significant sign will be the rapid onset, within minutes, of similar symptoms in a large group of people.

42. Blister Agents There are a number of blister agents: Mustards (H) (referred to as mustard agents) Lewisite (L) Phosgene oxime (CX)

43. Blood Agents Common Name AbbreviationCAS #NFPA 704UN ID#Hazard Class Hydrogen cyanide AC74-90-84,4,210516.1 Cyanogen chloride CK506-77-44,4,215892.3

44. Choking Agents Common Name AbbreviationCAS #NFPA 704UN ID#Hazard Class ChlorineCl7782-50-53,0,010172.3 PhosgeneCG75-44-54,0,010762.3

45. Irritating or Incapacitating Agents The common irritating agents: Chloropicrin MACE Tear gas Capsicum/pepper spray Dibenzoxazepine

46. Relative Lethality of Agents Compared to Chlorine: Cyanogen chloride is twice as toxic. Phosgene is six times more toxic. Hydrogen cyanide is seven times more toxic. Mustard is 13 times more toxic. Sarin is 200 times more toxic. VX is 600 times more toxic.

47. Relative Lethality of Agents

48. Summary Recognition of potentially hazardous situations involving chemicals is important. Applying hazard/risk assessment techniques and following safe work practices is essential. Responders need to have a basic knowledge of chemistry. An understanding of basic chemical hazards, hazard classes and chemical reactivity is vital.