Perspectives in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
In-Transit Chemical Spill -- West Virginia
On October 14, 1985, a truck was transporting a 1-ton cylinder
containing 2,000 pounds of antimony pentachloride from a production
plant in Kentucky to a disposal site in New Jersey. At
approximately
9 p.m., while the truck was parked at a company truck terminal in
Wood
County, West Virginia, a member of the county rescue squad noticed
a
liquid chemical leaking from the front of the trailer. The spill
consisted of approximately 1,000 pounds of antimony pentachloride,
which came from the tank's defective relief valve and valve seat.
Antimony pentachloride reacts with atmospheric moisture to form
hydrochloric acid.
Emergency-response efforts included simultaneous containment
and
evacuation. Soda ash, bicarbonate of soda, sand, and a trench were
used to limit the ground spread of the liquid spill. Access to the
leaking tank was obtained by using a backhoe to tear one side out
of
the trailer. The leak was plugged at 2:16 a.m., October 15, when a
piece of wood dowel was put in the 1/8-inch-diameter hole. Police
used public-address systems to notify the residents and roadblocks
to
control traffic. Approximately 500-600 residents were evacuated
from
their homes.
Area hospitals reported 12 people in the area were treated for
a
variety of ailments, including one chemical burn, dizziness, throat
and stomach pains, and burning sensations. The chemical-burn victim
was a member of the emergency-response team. None of the cases were
reported to be serious.
This event provided an opportunity to identify communication
weaknesses in the Wood County Emergency Plan. Because of the
diversity of organized involvement in the community and the newness
of
the system, many officials were never contacted. The Mid-Ohio
Valley
Health Department (MOVHD) is assisting in strengthening these
organizational links. MOVHD is currently gathering and summarizing
all
available data relating to this event. This information will help
MOVHD assist in establishing criteria for an effective emergency
plan
for the six counties it serves.
Reported by L Burtis, Mid-Ohio Valley Health Dept, LE Haddy, MS,
State
Epidemiologist, West Virginia State Dept of Health; Office of
Health
Assessment, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S.
Public Health Service; Div of Environmental Hazards and Health
Effects, Center for Environmental Health, CDC.
Editorial Note
Editorial Note: Unintentional releases of hazardous materials
occur
throughout the United States and have potentially serious public
health impacts. Approximately 25% of all releases occur when
materials are being transported; 75% occur during their production,
storage, or usage within plants (1). From 1971 to 1981, over
108,000
hazardous-material events occurred on public roads in the United
States (2). Of these, 860 (0.8%) occurred in West Virginia.
In-transit releases of hazardous materials occurred most frequently
in
Pennsylvania (11,961), Ohio (8,198), and Illinois (5,318).
The public health effects can be minimized with efficient
emergency preparation and response. Hazardous-material events
demonstrate the importance of ensuring that contingency plans are
in
place and the component activities are coordinated throughout the
response. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S.
Coast Guard (USCG), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA)
are responsible for providing consultation on the development and
implementation of contingency plans and for providing, as needed,
on-scene coordination in emergency situations. The Agency for
Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) or CDC can assist in the
development of the health components of these plans. EPA and USCG,
as
well as designated state and local emergency-response officials,
depend on the emergency-response capabilities of ATSDR or CDC to
help
assess the potential health risks resulting from emergency events.
The
Emergency Response Coordinators of ATSDR are available to provide
immediate health consultation 24 hours a day; telephone: FTS
236-4100
or commercial (404) 452-4100 (days), and FTS 236-2888 or commercial
(404) 329-2888 (nights and weekends).
References
Industrial Economics Incorporated. Acute hazardous events
database draft report. Washington, D.C.: The Office of Policy
Analysis, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1985
(unpublished).
Jossi DA. Data from the Department of Transportation's
Hazardous
Materials Information System. Washington, D.C.: Wilson Hill
Associates, 1982.
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