the toxic truth - Greenpeace

the toxic truth
What it is possible to
conclude on the publicly
available evidence
It is likely that individuals would have been
exposed to one or more of the following
chemicals, by contact, inhalation or otherwise.
soDIuM HyDRoxIDe
Based on the NFI analysis, sodium hydroxide
represented some 10 per cent of the waste,
weighing 37.9 tons.
Sodium hydroxide can be absorbed into the
body by inhalation of aerosol and by ingestion.
The chemical is very corrosive to the eyes,
skin and respiratory tract. Because of its
corrosiveness, skin will be damaged on
contact but uptake by the skin is unlikely to be
a significant exposure route unless there is
extensive skin injury. It is corrosive following
ingestion. Inhalation of an aerosol of sodium
hydroxide may cause lung oedema. Repeated
or prolonged contact with skin may cause
dermatitis.
Following inhalation of sodium hydroxide
aerosols, individuals complain of a burning
sensation, sore throat, cough, laboured
breathing and shortness of breath. Symptoms
may be delayed. Contact with the skin will
result in the skin becoming red and painful
and there may be serious skin blisters.
Exposure of the eyes will result in them
becoming red and painful and there may be
blurred vision and severe deep burns. Any
ingestion will result in a burning sensation and
abdominal pain with the individual going into
shock and possibly collapsing.
MeRCaPTIDes/MeRCaPTaNs
Mercaptide salts that is, salts into which the
mercaptans in the original coker naphtha
would have been converted (however
inefficiently) during the caustic washing
operations – have been found in the waste.
The compounds that were identified by
NFI in a mixture which had been acidified
included methyl mercaptan, ethyl mercaptan,
butyl mercaptan, propyl mercaptan, pentyl
mercaptan, phenyl mercaptan and heptyl
mercaptan, indicating the presence of a
diverse array of mercaptides in the waste
itself. It is clear that the pH of some of the
waste did fall below 11, which would have
resulted in a proportion of the mercaptides
being converted back to mercaptans and
being released. 61
Following inhalation of mercaptans, the likely
effects would be headache, nausea, cough,
dizziness and drowsiness. There may also
be vomiting as a result of the nausea. Where
concentrations are high enough, individuals
can become unconscious, the breathing rate
will slow and there is a risk of death.
Exposure to certain mercaptans at high
enough levels could, in theory, be lethal. While
it is clear that there are doses which are lethal
to animals in laboratory tests, evidence for
humans is very limited. There is, however,
one well known example of a worker’s death
which is thought to have resulted from high
level exposure to methyl mercaptan in the
1960s. He was involved in cleaning out tanks
in which the chemical had been stored, so
his exposure was probably very high and
perhaps long-term, but it is taken (even by
the US Environmental Protection Agency)
to be “a single case of death resulting
from occupational exposure to methyl
mercaptan.” 62
Mercaptans are recognized irritants of the
eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Exposure to
the eyes can result in them becoming red and
painful. Exposure of the skin can result in it
becoming red and painful. Prolonged exposure
can cause dermatitis.
A toxicologist has advised Amnesty
International and Greenpeace that medical
observation is warranted where exposure may
have occurred. 63
217
ANNEX I