Ammonia, also known as anhydrous ammonia, is well known to be a dangerous chemical capable of inflicting severe chemical burns on an individual’s air system and causing death˳ On May 11, 1976, people along US 59, or the Southwest Freeway, and Interstate- 610, or the loop, received first-hand information concerning the dangers of ammonia˳
Around 11 a˳m˳ on May 11, 1976, a Transport Company of Texas tanker truck carrying 7,509 gallons of anhydrous ammonia, or ammonia, hit a bridge rail on an overpass connecting the Southwest Freeway and the Loop˳ The truck went through the rail and ended up falling roughly 15 feet onto the Southwest Freeway˳
Following the impact with the lower highway, the damaged truck released the vast majority of its cargo into the atmosphere˳ When the ammonia was released, there were around 500 people within a quarter of a mile of the spill˳ The ammonia in question vaporized almost immediately˳ It must not have been very humid that morning as the wind, at 7 miles per hour, gradually decreased the concentration at ground level˳ This is possible when it is not humid as ammonia is less dense than air˳ When there is water present in the air, the ammonia mixes with it and stays close to ground level˳ Within 5 minutes, the liquefied ammonia boiled off and the vapor cloud had completely dispersed˳
As a result of the accident, 6 people lost their lives, 78 people were hospitalized with serious injuries, and 100 more sought medical attention for less severe injuries˳ Of the 6 deaths, 5 of them were attributed to inhaling anhydrous ammonia˳ All 178 injuries were also attributed to inhaling or exposure to the ammonia˳ All victims of the spill were within 1000 feet of the release site for the ammonia˳
It has proven by this accident that those who stayed in their cars or office buildings had less of a chance of being injured severely by the ammonia˳ All of the people who were injured were outside of their vehicles or buildings˳ They either started out outside of their cars or got out to help˳ For this reason, it is recommended that people not rush into an ammonia spill without protective gear˳ Also, when helping people who have been hurt by ammonia, it is recommended that rescuers approach from upwind˳ This ensures a better chance of the ammonia having left the area already˳
Source by https://ezinearticles˳com/?1976-Ammonia-Spill-of-Houston&id=1270104
