MEC&F Expert Engineers : FOUR HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL TANKER CARS HAVE DERAILED IN ADDIS, LOUISIANA

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

FOUR HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL TANKER CARS HAVE DERAILED IN ADDIS, LOUISIANA



























MAY 19, 2015


ADDIS, LA (WAFB)


Four chemical tankers have derailed at the interchange on Peter Messina Road in Addis.  Officials say the tankers are not leaking. The chemicals on the train are sodium hydroxide, propylene oxide, propylene dichloride, and the fourth car nitrogen blanket purge.


"We’re investigating and we know two of the cars have caustic agents and two of the cars have flammable chemicals in them," said Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality’s Gregory Langley. "We're in the process of responding and the cars are not leaking, so there's no immediate threat of anything right now."


Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound that is very corrosive. 


Propylene oxide is an organic compound used for the production of polyether polyols for use in making polyurethane plastics.


Propylene dichloride is an organic compound classified as a chlorocarbon.  It is a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor. it is obtained as a byproduct of the production of epichlorohydrin, which is produced on a large scale.


The derailment occurred around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The Addis Police Department is investigating, along with the assistance of the West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office.


Addis Police Chief Ricky Anderson says there is no threat to the public, unless of course the tankers explode.