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Disaster averted at hazardous waste facilityBy MaryHelen Swanson They didnít panic, which is good. They remembered something they learned from a training film and called for appropriate people to take care of a potentially serious situation at the Chisago County Household Hazardous Waste Facility in North Branch Monday, July 8. When a county resident brought in a number of items to the facility in the Industrial Park that day, employee Lisa Thibodeau noted the words ěPicric Acidî on a container of crystals. ěThe first thing we do is read the labels,î Thibodeau said. Recognizing this as a potentially explosive substance from a training film she viewed, she pointed it out to Paul Dennison and he immediately called the people where they ship waste to, to get some kind of idea how to handle it, he said. The St. Paul Bomb Squad was called in as well as the stateís Duty Officer who sees to it that disposal (detonation) of such chemicals is paid for by the state. Also on the scene that day were local emergency service, police and fire personnel. Upon arrival in North Branch, the bomb squad suited up and took away the bottle which contained about four ounces of dried picric acid. Picric, Dennison said, is similar to TNT. Among other uses, picric acid is used as a dying agent and in this case, was used for dying feathers for the Chisago County resident who made flies for fishing. The acid was about 20 years old, and had crystallized, becoming even more volatile. The man who brought it in did not know it was dangerous, Dennison said. It could have sat where it was for another 50 years, said Dennison, but we didnít want the responsibility of keeping it around. He hoped that this story would not be sensationalized, but used as a ěheads upî for people who may have old chemicals sitting around their homes. ěWe deal mostly with common, everyday household chemical,î Thibodeau said, ěnot laboratory-grade chemicals.î Keeping the label on all products is the key, Dennison said, ěabsolutely key.î He said the people behind labeling laws had real sense in what they required. At the HHW facility visitors are provided a list of precautions to keep everyone safe. To be safe until the bomb squad arrived, Dennison packed up the container. "We did not panic," Thibodeau said, and both agreed that was important. She said the two work like detectives much of the time, and knowing what to look for is very helpful. Both agreed they would not have done anything different than they did last week. As always, when a variety of items are brought in, they take their time, read labels and try not to smash things around. On this particular day, with the container of picric acid on top of the cart full of stuff, that was a wise decision. Additionally, they did not open the container, which was also wise. Tiny crystals on the inside of the lid of the container could have exploded causing much destruction and fire to the building and serious injury to the employees. Dennison said he wouldnít be surprised if they never saw picric acid again, but in the event anyone does have some in their home, he recommends calling the HHW facility, 237-0912. Extreme care in handling the acid is important. Do not bring it in, he said. Picric acid or Trinitrophenol is one of the more dangerous chemicals being used today. It is explosive but also highly shock, heat and friction sensitive. In fact, detonation with a speed and power superior to that of TNT can occur by a 2 kg weight falling onto solid picric acid from a height of 36 cm. Picric acid is toxic by all routes of entry, itís also a skin irritant and allergen and will produce toxic products on decomposition. Picric acid is used primarily in the manufacture of explosives and as an intermediate in dye manufacturing. It is also present in many laboratories, for use as a chemical reagent. Picric acid must never be allowed to dry out but even more importantly, it should never be allowed to dry out on metal or concrete surfaces. Some companies recommend that picric acid be disposed of after two years and propose the following storage guidelines: Store in a cool dry place away from heat sources or open flame. Inspect the bottles and add water as needed every six months. Gently rotate bottles to distribute water every three months. There are several acceptable ways of disposing of old picric acid. The safest, however, is to let explosivesí experts such as a local bomb disposal unit, handle the situation. ©ECM Post Review |