There are three main issues facing responders at the scene of truly “unknown” hazardous materials incidents. Over the course of three (3) months posting, we will examine beginning today with section 1 “unknown odors” we will explore these issues at the core of information needed by emergency responders as they arrive on an incident. Having the required data from these three elements allow the team to progress through the initial response to set-up of tactical activities and finally the orchestration of a decontamination system. Understanding these three components can give your response team a skeletal structure for operating a successful response throughout the entire incident.
The first of which is indicating odors either reported at the scene by “affected” individuals, or through dispatch by way of the initial call for response. Some of these agents can be identified by their scent, at levels below their PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit) from varying distances.
The second is the “exposure consequence” of these agents. What are their effects on the human body, and what can we expect at one of these incidents. How can these “affects” be treated in the field by the first responder? With what materials do responders need access to, either quickly, or from a large storage supply?
Lastly, how shall we decontaminate victims, responders, and our equipment? This (series) of articles shall answer these three pressing questions for the emergency response arena. We shall begin with this months’ issue on unknown odors.
There are three “Main” groups of both toxic and hazardous materials that frequently evolve vapors that are discernible from a distance below their respective PEL’s. TIM’s or toxic industrial materials are a relatively wide array of chemical compounds used frequently throughout industry. Hydrocarbons, a smaller group, usually consisting of flammables and corrosives also frequently shipped and used in industrial applications. Halogenated solvents are the smallest group and usually known for exhibiting the major hazard aspect of toxicity. These are listed in brevity below;
1] TIM’s (Industrial precursors)
3] Halogenated Solvents
This is NOT an endorsement for using this technique in any way for investigative identification of these hazardous materials. Always practice your “safety” detection protocols when attempting to identify and or monitor hazardous materials. This said, the fact of the matter is, “affected persons” will call in the alarm while noting definite smells or odors, and they will probably also report them to 911 dispatch. If these individuals have moved away from the hazard release exclusion zone, either by accident, on purpose (fear) or suspicion after noting the odor, they may be unaffected by the release and offer the responder a wealth of information if they can be located for an interview.
A list like this should be carried, or accessible to all emergency responders that may be called to a chemical incident. First responders using nothing more than an “indicating odor” can prevent civilian exposure by practicing evacuation, thus eliminating future patients, while awaiting the Haz-Mat Teams’ arrival. A note about the halogenated solvents; while the odor threshold in the following charts exceed the PEL, remember that this value is for unprotected respiratory exposure “over” a 8 hr duration. A “threshold” refers to a discernible odor that causes the individual to shy away from its source. If responders are not familiar with some of these common smells a good training procedure to locate the non-toxic versions of these odors and create a “quiz” to detect and identify these odors in preparation of an actual response. This can be implemented by your training coordinator and be entertaining as well as beneficial to the Team as a whole.
TIM’s (Toxic Industrial Materials)
pH Odor Industry Material Detectable Odor
Acid Almonds Plating Hydrogen cyanide 0.05 to 5 ppm
Acid Chlorine Water Chlorine 0.5 ppm
Acid Green Grass Metal/Grain Storage Nitrogen Dioxide 5 ppm
Acid Green Grass Electricity/Welding Phosgene 1 ppm
Acid Rotten Eggs C.S./Petroleum Hydrogen Sulfide 5 ppb
Acid None/Low Refrigeration CO2 74000ppm/acid gas smell
Basic Ammonia Ref/Blueprints Ammonia 5 ppm
Basic Fishy/ Ammonia Tech Dimethylamine unknown
Basic Dead Animal Chem/reclamation Monomethylamine unknown
Basic Solvent Chem/Cleaning Analine/Pyridine/Morphaline 1 ppm
Neutral None Refrigeration Carbon Monoxide 74000ppm/acidic
Neutral Onion/mustard Battery Recharging Stibine <1 ppm
Neutral Garlic Acetyl gen/Electronics Arsine <1 ppm
Neutral Foul Sulfurous Natural Gas Mercaptans ppb’s
Neutral Biology Dissection Plastics/Clothing Formaldehydye 0.1 ppm
Neutral New car plastic Urethane plastic Toluene diisocyanate 2 ppm
Neutral Bitter chocolate Electronics/exotic fuels Decarboranes unknown
Neutral Nauseating Electronics/exotic fuels Diboranes unknown
Neutral Disagreeable Fumigation Chloropicrin < 1 ppm
Neutral Dry cleaning Degreasing/cleaning Carbon Tetracloride 100 ppm
Methylene chloride 200 ppm
Methyl chloride 10 ppm
Trichloroethylene 20 ppm
Perchloroethylene 5 ppm
Chlorobenzene < 1 ppm
Neutral Heaviness in lungs Refrigeration Freons unknown
Neutral Metal taste Pigment mfg/ceramics Metal dusts unknown
While this is not a complete list for all TIM’s, it does cover many of the frequently released items that are heavily transported across the industry and frequently used in medium to large transportation vessels. Using this chart for TIM identification may give you an edge towards reducing exposure to responders and unprotected civilians.
Odor Material Detectable Odor Level
Acrid, Sharp Acrylic Acid < 1 ppm
Airplane glue Toluene 1 ppm
Aldehyde/alcohol Methanol about 100 ppm
Beer, Gin, Vodka Ethanol about 10 ppm
Gasoline Benzene about 5 ppm
Boat resin Styrene < 1 ppm
Chloroseptic, library paste Phenol in ppb level
Elmer’s glue Vinyl acetate < 1 ppm
Fingernail polish remover Acetone 100 ppm
Green & Sweet Acetaldehyde about 1 ppm
Pumpkins (foul) Carbon disulfide < 1 ppm
Sweet plastic, water (IPA) Xylene < 1 ppm
Sweet garbage, solvent Methyl Ethyl ketone about 10 ppm
Vinegar Acetic acid about 1 ppm
While the hydrocarbon family does have a slightly lower toxicity exposure, appreciate the higher hazard is flammability. If flammability readings are low, due to reduced % concentration released, you should assume a flammable hazard could elevate if the release should suddenly increase in volume.
Odor Possible contaminant PEL Odor Threshold
Shoe dye Chlorobenzene 75 ppm 60 ppm
Dry Cleaning Perchloroethylene 100 ppm 27 ppm
Trichloroethylene 100 ppm 21 ppm
Chloroform 2 ppm 85 ppm
Carbon tetrachloride 10 ppm 100 ppm
Trichloroethane 350 ppm 200-500 ppm
Disagreeable Methyl bromide 20 ppm unknown
Many of the cleaning industries have removed these hazards from neighborhood dry cleaning operations over the years, due to regulatory improvements. Industrially, they may still be transported in large quantities for industrial compound precursors used in industrial cleaning. Becoming well versed in “unknown odors” is the first step towards the identification of truly “unknown” spills. This skill will enable your response team to begin the identification process moving you forward towards a successful mitigation and response. Stay tuned to next month’s component dealing with medical “Exposures.”
Haz Mat Mike