How toxic is ammonium nitrate?
Ammonium nitrate has moderate toxicity if swallowed. It is not classified as hazardous according to criteria of WorkSafe Australia. Inhalation: High mist concentration of air-borne material may cause irritation to the nose and upper respiratory tract; symptoms may include coughing and sore throat.
What health problems did the ammonium nitrate explosion cause?
It can cause blindness, lung damage, and death. When breathed in at lower levels, it can prompt coughing, and the irritation of the throat and nose.
How does ammonium nitrate explode in Lebanon?
The main cause of the explosion was the large amount (approximately 2750 Tons) of NH4NO3 at the site. The decomposition of huge amount of ammonium nitrate not only took the lives of hundreds of people but has also heavily pumped nitrites as well as CO2 & CO into the environment.
What type of chemical reaction caused the Beirut explosion?
Beirut Ammonium Nitrate Blast
Beirut Ammonium Nitrate Blast: Analysis, Review, and Recommendations. A massive chemical detonation occurred on August 4, 2020 in the Port of Beirut, Lebanon. An uncontrolled fire in an adjacent warehouse ignited ~2,750 tons of Ammonium Nitrate (AN), producing one of the most devastating blasts in recent history.
What does ammonium nitrate smell like?
(KYTX) — As firefighters continue to fight a mill fire in Winnsboro, the harmful fumes of ammonium nitrate escape into the air. Ammonium nitrate is a crystal salt consisting of ammonia and nitric acid. They are characterized by a yellow smoke and distinctive smell.
What hazard class is ammonium nitrate?
| US DOT | Canada TDG | |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping Name: | AMMONIUM NITRATE | AMMONIUM NITRATE |
| Hazard Class: | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| UN Number: | UN1942 | UN1942 |
| Packing Group: | III | III |
Why was the smoke red in Beirut?
The red-orange smoke plume was one of the first clues that ammonium nitrate was involved in the explosion in Beirut. When the ammonium nitrate stores exploded, a white condensation cloud spread out in a sphere from the site, followed by a huge plume of red-orange smoke rising from the hanger.
What is ammonium nitrate used for in Beirut?
Lebanese authorities say that the explosion, which killed at least 220 people, injured more than 5,000 and left an estimated 300,000 people homeless, was caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, a chemical compound commonly used as an agricultural fertilizer, which had been stored for 6 years at a port warehouse.
Is ammonium nitrate carcinogenic?
OSHA: No component of this product present at levels greater than or equal to 0.1\% is identified as a carcinogen or potential carcinogen by OSHA. Inhalation – May cause respiratory irritation. Inhalation May be harmful if inhaled.