Posted on 08/06/2017 3:58:26 PM PDT by BenLurkin
At least 13 people suffered minor injuries after a container ship near the Port of Long Beach leaked a chemical compound on Sunday morning, the United States Coast Guard said.
The incident occurred around 9:27 a.m. and was first described as an unidentified substance leakage, in a tweet from the Long Beach Fire Department. The Department initially reported 11 injured dock workers, but later updated the number injured to 12.
A firefighter was also injured due to a fall, the Coast Guard later said.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...
Propyl acetate, also known as propyl ethanoate, is a chemical compound used as a solvent and an example of an ester. This clear, colorless liquid is known by its characteristic odor of pears. Due to this fact, it is commonly used in fragrances and as a flavor additive. It is formed by the esterification of acetic acid and 1-propanol (known as a condensation reaction), often via Fischer–Speier esterification, with sulfuric acid as a catalyst and water produced as a byproduct.
used as a flavor additive
Yum!
I grew up in and around the L.a. Long Beach Harbor complex. Back in the 60s, 70s .Man there was some smells from that place and odd sheen in the water were kinda scary looking back. We swam in that crap. Copra was one fun aroma.
I checked half a dozen articles and I find it interesting none the articles identified the ship that brought it in the harbor either by name of country of origin.
rwood
oooh...pick me, pick me.
Trump’s fault for cutting EPA.
They must have practically bathed in it. It is an irritant but the bigger problem is it’s flammable. IDLH of 1700 ppm looks like it’s based on flammability (10% of LFL).
“The chemical compound propyl acetate had spilled from a commercial container ship called Harbour Bridge, which was docked at Pier G in the Port of Long Beach, the Coast Guard said.”
Harbour Bridge?
I recognized almost immediately it was a vessel associated with, leased, or owned by K-line. They have a thing about “bridge” in the names of their vessels. I looked it up, and found I was right. Used to work for one of their terminals in the 1970’s.
Probably respiratory issues.
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Propyl_acetate#section=Safety-and-Hazard-Properties
Health Hazard
Contact with skin and eyes causes no serious injury. High vapor concentrations will be irritating and will cause nausea, vomiting, and dizziness, with final loss of consciousness. (USCG, 1999)
Skin, Eye, and Respiratory Irritations
IN MAN, CONCN OF 200 PPM CAUSE IRRITATION OF EYES & GREATER CONCN ... /CAUSE/ IRRITATION OF NOSE & LARYNX.
Eye:Irrigate immediately
Skin:Water flush promptly
Breathing:Respiratory support
Swallow:Medical attention immediately
Explosion Hazard - Vapour/air mixtures are explosive.
Fire Hazard
Excerpt from ERG Guide 129 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Miscible / Noxious)]: HIGHLY FLAMMABLE: Will be easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames. Vapors may form explosive mixtures with air. Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Most vapors are heavier than air. They will spread along ground and collect in low or confined areas (sewers, basements, tanks). Vapor explosion hazard indoors, outdoors or in sewers. Those substances designated with a (P) may polymerize explosively when heated or involved in a fire. Runoff to sewer may create fire or explosion hazard. Containers may explode when heated. Many liquids are lighter than water. (ERG, 2016)
Fire Fighting Measures
If material on fire or involved in fire: Do not extinguish fire unless flow can be stopped or safely confined. Use water in flooding quantities of fog. Solid streams of water may be ineffective. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible. Use “alcohol foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
Made by 39 manufacturers world wide, including the USA, China, India, Mexico, Germany, among others.
BASF, Dow, and Eastman Chemical are the principal American manufacturers.
BASF doesn’t make propyl acetate it makes it more deadly
Made octal ethanoate in high school chemistry class, back in 1970.
It’s an ester made by reacting octyl alcohol and acetic acid. You have to dehydrate it with sulfuric acid after synthesis. Smells like oranges.
I wonder if high school students get to make esters now a days. Something tells me “no.”
Another ester is called nitroglycerine.
I hear it can have long-term effects on beebers.
Stunes 'em.
the product was coming from China, I will guess.
Americans don’t manufacture any hazardous commodities any longer. Why bother when everything from tort law to insurance to OSHA to EPA to liberal society to government at all levels are forcing you not to?
Does that make K-Line responsible for the spill? You know someone is going to take a financial spanking on this. The question I have is if the government is going to get into it for the money. I don’t know how sea vessels fall under OSHO standards as there have to be some type of set of guidelines and from where under which country. But it happened, at least partially, in US waters. What are the guidelines?
rwood
I won’t venture into the legalese of the situation. I mentioned I hope that I was involved in terminal operations, not maritime law.
Perhaps another Freeper could help you with your question.
“BASF doesn’t make the things that kill you, it makes the things that kill you more kill-y”.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.