|
Abstract
|
Background & Objective: Release of chemicals material due to road transportation crashes is associated with adverse consequences, including death, injuries, loss of property, and environmental damage. The present study aimed to investigate the fatal hazards caused by the road transportation crashes of chemical material tankers.
Materials and Methods: In an applied study, chemical tankers in Iran's road transportation fleet were evaluated, and the most frequently transported chemicals including ammonia, chlorine, 1,3-butadiene, benzene, and toluene, were selected for modeling the release of toxic substances. To cover the other possible scenarios, the full rupture of the investigated tankers was determined as the selected scenario, and lethal concentrations of the toxic substances (LC1, LC10, LC50, and LC90) were calculated using the Probit model. Finally, modeling of the toxic substance release was performed in order to verify the associated fatal hazards using the ALOHA and PHAST software.
Results: Based on the lethal concentrations of LC1, LC10, LC50, and LC90 using the ALOHA software, fatal hazard distances of ammonia were determined to be 980, 866, 741, and 629 meters, respectively. In addition, using the PHAST software, fatal hazard distances of chlorine were calculated to be 620, 318, 204, and 157 meters, respectively. Therefore, these chemicals were confirmed as the most dangerous toxic substances in road transportation.
Conclusion: Due to the impossibility of emergency response planning based on the results of the mentioned software at all concentrations, it is recommended that in order to prevent the occurrence of probable hazards, the highest fatal hazard distance based on the LC1 be considered in the emergency response planning regardless of the type of the material and software. Furthermore, it is suggested that in the event of an crash, individuals passing through the area within a distance of 980 meters be provided with air suppliers and breathing equipment.
Language: en |