What Are the Dangerous Chemicals Coming Through Local Freeways?

The , April 29, 2012 causes thought on just what types of hazardous chemicals are being transported through Pleasanton on I-580- and I-680.

The big rig was carrying "Lithium and other chemicals, flammable when exposed to water." When the big rig jackknifed into the concrete median, it released some of its diesel fuel.

As it turns out, one of the other chemicals on board this jackknifed big rig was a 55-gallon drum of Thimethylgallium (TMG). The Lithium on board was limited to a 10 gallon metal drum.

Lithium has the risk of fire and explosion on contact with combustable substances and water. Complications from inhalation and ingestion can be life threatening, and prolonged exposure is certain death.

The main Lithium compound is the Lithium Hydroxide. It is a white powder and can be used in the pottery industry and in medicine as an antidepressant.

Trimethylgallium is a clear, colorless, pyrophoric liquid. Even the hydrocarbon solutions of TMG, when sufficiently saturated, are known to catch fire on exposure to air.

TMG is known to react violently with water and other compounds that are capable of providing Labile and active hydrogen (i.e. protons). Therefore, TMG needs to be handled with care and caution, e.g. stored in a cool, dry place at 0-25 C, under inert atmosphere.

The main use of TMG in the production of LED lighting and semiconductor as a metaloganic chemical vapor deposition precursor.

There is a very large assortment of very hazardous chemicals that are transported over the local freeways on a daily basis. Near the top of the list is a chemical called Hydrofluoric Acid.

Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) in transport is 49% pure. The remaining content, 51%, is deionized water. It usually is transported in bulk at approximately 44,000 Lbs. in a stainless steel, Teflon lined tanker. Sometimes Hydrofluoric Acid is transported in regular big rig box trailer, weighing 44,000 pounds, with a load of 80 or more 55-gallon drums.

When Hydrofluoric Acid is released, it immediately forms a toxic cloud and when it is inhaled will cause death. If Hydrofluoric Acid in a liquid state is splashed on the human body, contact with the acid over 15% body mass or greater will cause a painful death.

It migrates from the skin surface, down though the soft tissue of the body to the calcium in the bones of the body. it absorbs the calcium in the skeleton.

Other high purity acids routinely transported on the I-580 and I-680 freeways are Nitric, Sulfuric, Acetic and others. Nitric and Sulfuric when released to atmosphere form a toxic cloud. Acetic is highly flammable. All these acids are used in the semiconductor industry.

Other hazardous chemicals on the freeways range from Ammonia anhydrous +50% to unstablized Hydrogen Peroxide, to Zirconium suspended in flammable liquid.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) emergency response guide book lists over 6,000 chemicals in transport every day, compressed gases and liquid gases among them.

According to the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety at the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are 1.2 million daily shipments of hazardous materials in the United States moving 3.9 million tons of hazardous materials each year.

On the highways of California, the California Highway Patrol is the incident commander. Such was the case Sunday evening. Cal Trans was the clean up agency. was on scene to provide technical assistance and safety.

The two hazardous chemicals in this incident remained contained in their original shipping containers and did not present a threat to the community. The fire department remained on site until the chemicals were safely removed and transported off site and the site was cleaned up and reopened to traffic.