One of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history obliterated a Beirut port and destroyed more than half of the city on August 4, 2020. The detonation of tons of ammonium nitrate, a flammable chemical combination often used in agriculture as a high-nitrate fertilizer but also capable of being utilized to make explosives, caused the explosion. The Beirut explosion resulted in a massive blast that left a 140-meter-wide crater, a 3.3-magnitude earthquake, and more than 178 fatalities, including dockworkers, warehouse maintenance personnel, civilians in the immediate vicinity, bystanders in vehicles, people working in shopping malls, and so on. The explosion’s damage zone comprised a variety of targets, including hospitals and residential buildings. In addition to this, the explosion injured more than 6500 people and around 300,000 people homeless.
Ammonium nitrate is a white crystal-like substance that is produced in vast quantities in industry. It’s a synthetic substance that’s made all over the planet. It is quite safe to handle on its own, but keeping huge amounts of it can cause problems, and it has been linked to significant industrial mishaps in the past. When ammonium nitrate bursts, hazardous chemicals such as nitrogen oxides and ammonia gas are released. According to some studies, nitrogen dioxide, which is typically connected with air pollution, causes an orange plume. AN can be degraded before it reaches boiling point, Ammonium nitrate is stable under normal conditions, and there will be no quick burning. Its primary application is as a source of nitrogen for fertilizer because it is rich in nitrogen which can fertilize plants. Still, Ammonium Nitrate is highly likely to explode if it comes into touch with a high-intensikly ignition source and is present in significant numbers in a small space or is contaminated with other flammable compounds. Ammonium nitrate is also used to make explosives for mining. The Seveso Directive II added ammonium nitrate to the list of dangerous compounds (European Parliament and Council of the European Union).
Beirut Blast Toxicity
The gas-phase produces four chemical species: white ammonia nitrate mist (NH3), HNO3, nitrous oxide (N2O), and H2O vapor. AN entirely decomposes in confinement, allowing the four gases to react to generate water vapor, nitrogen, and poisonous brown fumes, primarily nitric oxides (NOx). The most hazardous NOx are nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Only one or two breaths of NOx can result in severe poisoning. The Beirut explosion also released significant volumes of particulate matter, which lingered in the air for days, affecting far more people than any previous blast pollution. Sulfates, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, and mineral dust are some of the toxic gas that is emitted.
Preventive Measures
From these accidents, it is evident that achieving ammonium nitrate explosion safety is very evident. Accordingly, lessons learned and a series of actionable recommendations are suggested to promote population safety and improve emergency response.
- Hazard Materials Regulation and Storage Requirement
This explosion is the result of a significant regulatory failure. When storage circumstances deteriorated, such as material confinement, impurity contamination, or a thermal/ignition source, the AN-based product detonated. Chlorinated chemicals, organic molecules, and heavy metals are dangerous interactions between AN and other items. Adopting and enforcing standard safety norms and procedures, particularly in the transportation and storage of hazardous commodities, is critical. The government should enact safety measures to guarantee that these materials are stored at a safe distance from people and residential areas.
2. Laminated Glass in Urban Settings
Given the increased danger of secondary blast injuries, laminated glass in urban structures is crucial to reducing building glass fragmentation and its effects. When it comes to blast waves, laminated glass has proven beneficial. Glass debris is a recognized source of injuries after an explosion.
3. Hospital Disaster Preparedness
Three large hospitals were completely destroyed, while three others were slightly damaged, limiting their capacity to admit patients and treat them. Lessons acquired from this unfortunate incident should be applied to hospital readiness and emergency response strategies in the case of future large-scale disasters or mass casualty occurrences.
Source: www.frontiersin.org
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