5,000 evacuated after hazardous acid spill in Pa.

news.yahoo ^ | 2 hrs 18 mins ago

[JoeProBono]

WIND GAP, Pa. – Evacuation orders for about 5,000 people in northeastern Pennsylvania remain in effect even as authorities say the leak of a hazardous chemical has been contained.

Authorities say a tanker truck carrying more than 16 tons of hydrofluoric acid overturned early Saturday near Wind Gap, about 60 miles north of Philadelphia.

[JoeProBono]

AP – A tractor trailer carrying hydrofluoric acid sits on its side on Route 33 south near Wind Gap, Pa.

[Paved Paradise]

I would hate to be the poor soul that was on the road when this happened. There was a doctor whom we knew from this area who was killed in a fiery car crash from a tanker... around 15 years ago. It was near D.C. and he was going to visit his daughter. It just made me shudder.

[Ken522]

Wind Gap, about 60 miles north of Philadelphia.

I thought Philadelphia was in the SE PA - when did they move it??

[reg45]

One good thing about an HF spill is that it will kill off all the roaches in the area.

[al baby]

Hydrofluoric acid is a solution of hydrogen fluoride in water. While it is extremely corrosive and dangerous to handle, it is technically a weak acid.[1] Hydrogen fluoride, often in the aqueous form as hydrofluoric acid, is a valued source of fluorine, being the precursor to numerous pharmaceuticals (e.g., Prozac), diverse polymers (e.g., Teflon), and most other synthetic materials that contain fluorine. Hydrofluoric acid is best known to the public for its ability to dissolve glass by reacting with SiO2 (silicon dioxide), the major component of most glass. This property has been known since the 17th century, even before hydrofluoric acid had been prepared in large quantities by Scheele in 1771.[2] This dissolution process can be described as follows: SiO2(s) + 4 HF(aq) → SiF4(g) + 2 H2O(l) SiO2(s) + 6HF(aq) → H2[SiF6](aq) + 2H2O(l) Because of its high reactivity toward glass, hydrofluoric acid must be stored (for small quantities) in polyethylene or Teflon containers. It is also unique in its ability to dissolve many metal and semimetal oxides. It is corrosive, as explained below.

[Smokin' Joe]

HF is damnasty stuff. It can kill you before you realize it. It does not give a burning sensation on contact, but will continue to eat away inside.

Prayers up for the driver and all others in the area, esp. police/EMS/Rescue/and fire/hazmat crews.

[Fresh Wind]

I thought Philadelphia was in the SE PA - when did they move it??

They haven't. But I wish they would move Philadelphia to New Jersey. That would improve both states.

[Malsua]

But I wish they would move Philadelphia to New Jersey

East Philly is already in NJ. It's just called Camden.

[Fresh Wind]

Hmmm. I always thought Philly was West Camden.

[seowulf]

It can kill you before you realize it. It does not give a burning sensation on contact, but will continue to eat away inside.

It'll turn your bones to Jello if you don't notice in time.

The fluoride will also pull the calcium out of your system and mess up your electrolyte balance and give you a heart attack.

The medical treatment is 1. calcium gluconate which ties up the fluoride and 2. debridement, that is, cut the dead skin off before the acid can burn any deeper.

I got the stuff on me once, only once. I was much more careful after that.

[dr_lew]

X marks the spot. I've driven this route from I80 down to Easton many times. Needless to say, it's hilly and windy ( i.e. "wine-dee" ) and the trucks go too fast.

[mrmeangenes]

Oh yeah : Rte 33.Go a little further south and you’re near the place the annual Wind Gap Bluegrass festival is held.