Train Crash Emits Phosphoric Gas
Toxic Cloud Over Western Ukraine Compared to Chernobyl
On July 16, a train carrying toxic phosphorus derailed in western Ukraine, causing the evacuation of hundreds of people and drawing comparisons to Chernobyl.
A freight train carrying yellow phosphorus derailed and caught fire late Monday afternoon in western Ukraine near the city of Lviv, releasing a toxic cloud of gas into the atmosphere. Fourteen villages with a population of 11,000 people stand in the immediate vicinity of the accident. At least 815 residents have been evacuated for their safety, 21 people have been hospitalized, and at least another 50 are being treated for effects from the poisonous fumes.
The 58-car train was traveling from Kazakhstan to Poland when 15 cars carrying phosphorus inexplicably derailed. Six of the cars subsequently caught fire and released a cloud of yellow phosphoric gas that spread out over a 90 square kilometer area. Firefighters were able to put out the fires, and soda and sand were used to cover the contaminated land surrounding the train. Cleanup workers were forced to wear hazmat suits with oxygen tanks and limited to work no more than 45 minutes at a time.
What Is Phosphorus?
Phosphorus compounds are mainly used in fertilizers, though they are important components of pesticides, toothpaste, detergents explosives and fireworks. The highly toxic substance can cause liver damage if consumed, and can catch fire spontaneously when coming into contact with air at temperatures over 104 degrees.
Is This Accident Another Chernobyl?
Ukraine Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kuzmuk compared the accident to the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in 1986. “A disaster has happened. After the Chernobyl catastrophe we are dealing with a case that can pose a real threat for our people,” said Kuzmuk. “It is an extraordinary event, the consequences of which cannot be predicted.” Kuzmuk has since retrackted his remarks. The Ukrainian government estimates total cleanup costs will be approximately 100 million hryvnias (approximately $20 million US).
Ministry of Health Recommendations for the Public
The Ukrainian Ministry of Health has requested media outlets to help broadcast health recommendations for the affected populations. General recommendations include:
- Use water from wells only after that water has been tested in laboratories and approved for human use by authorities.
- Avoid eating fresh vegetables. If vegetables must be used, only use them after carefully washing them in a solution of baking soda and good-quality potable water (one tablespoon of baking soda to one liter of water).
- Clean houses with alkaline solutions using synthetic detergents, soap, or baking soda.
If the phosphorus cloud passes nearby a home, the Ministry of Health recommends the following for residents:
- Dress in clothing made from natural fabrics, covering the entire body. A hat should also be worn to cover the head.
- In case skin has come in contact with any questionable substances, cover the exposed area with gauze bandages moistened by a baking soda solution (one teaspoon of baking soda mixed in a glass of good-quality potable water).
- Limit time outdoors, particularly children.
References
This article presents information obtained from residents of Ukraine and several news outlets.
