There was a hydrochloric acid spill with in 10mls of my office today. The news report didnt say how large a spill it was they just said EVERY firefighter in the county on duty or off was called to seen.... I'm conserned should we still be at work? Does this chemical polute the air we breath? should I be conserened even if the local authorities are not.
2007-03-09 09:24:56 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment
You live in Mississippi. I live near Tupelo, MS. I heard that they evacuated everyone from the immediate area of that place because they feared contamination. If you're working close to the spill I suggest you ask for an alternative work site from your boss till the threat is gone.
2007-03-09 09:34:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hydrochloric acid can be rather corrosive, but it shouldn't be cause for you to leave work voluntarily, especially not at about 10 miles away. Stay put unless the authorities call for a mandatory evacuation.
If this was a spill on a highway or major road, I'd be more worried about traffic jams, and look for another route home if you have to go past where the accident happened. Maybe hit the road before others likely have the same idea, to avoid backed up traffic on the alternative routes as well.
2007-03-09 17:33:54 · answer #2 · answered by gshprd918 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no. you should be fine being that you are 10 miles away from the spill. it will vaporize at high temperatures and will pollute the air, but not significantly enough when it is outside. it will not degrade in the soil and is harmful to aquatic life. the firefighting team will most likely neutralize the acid with a form of calcium oxide. they will also prevent the spill from entering waterways via storm sewers. you should be fine.
2007-03-09 17:37:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
HCl is rather nasty, and breathing the gas can literally burn your lungs out from the inside. This is precisely why some bathroom and toilet cleansers are so dangerous!
That being said, you are probably quite safe being so far away. If your eyes are burning or itching, then you havea problem and should move somewhere not directly downstream of the gas plume. Otherwise, don't worry about it. HCl is NOT carcinogenic, it is simply a caustic chemical.
2007-03-09 17:41:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As others have said, if you are ten miles away don't worry. You have more HCl in you stomach than you are likely to contact from the spill.
And incidently, for the author of the first answer to to this question, HCl vapors are not at all caustic. HCl is an acid, the opposite of caustic.
2007-03-09 23:30:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
HCL is a bad acid , and very bad in a closed area. If the leak falls on galvanize it will release Hydrogen , very explosive. If it is spilled on cement or most dirt and stone the basic material in cement will neutralize the acid and give off CO2.
2007-03-09 19:29:07 · answer #6 · answered by JOHNNIE B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
HCl vapors are not anything you want to breathe or get close to.
It probably will disperse in a few miles
At 10 miles away you are beyond the area of danger.
Most of the vapors will not be concentrated enough to be detectably harmful.
If the wind is blowing it in your direction ,
faster than 5 miles /hour,
I would clear out (evacuate,)
2007-03-09 17:48:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋