At least 28 hazardous materials moved through Lancaster County in 2021

• By Ann Rejrat/LNP | LancasterOnline

At least 28 hazardous materials moved by train through Lancaster County in 2021, the most recent year for which that data is available in county officials’ commodity reports. The U.S. Department of Transportation defines hazardous material as “any materials that, because of quantity, concentration, or physical or chemical characteristics, pose a significant present or potential hazard to human health and safety, or to the environment, if released.

Here is a list of the hazardous materials included in the county’s report:

 

Hazmat Commodity: Acrylic Acid, Stabilized

Common use: Production of plastics

Risk: Skin irritation, eye irritation

 

Hazmat Commodity: Alcohol, NOS (not otherwise specified)

Common Uses: Can have multiple uses including as an additive or solvent.

Risk: Flammable

 

Hazmat Commodity: Ammonium Nitrate

Common uses: In the making of fertilizer. In the making of explosives 

Risk: Can intensify fires. Toxic inhalation risk

 

Hazmat Commodity: Anhydrous Ammonia

Common uses: In the making of fertilizer. Also, commonly used to make other compounds react with other things such as cleaning agents.

Risk: Toxic inhalation risk 

 

Hazmat Commodity: Carbon Dioxide

Common Use:Solid  Dry Ice, liquid or gas

Risk: Asphyxiation

 

Hazmat Commodity: Chlorine

Common Use: Water treatment for disinfection

Risk: Toxic inhalation risk

 

Hazmat Commodity: Combustible Liquids, NOS (not otherwise specified)

Common Use: N/A. This could be any type of combustible liquid that does not fall under another classification.

Risk: Flammable

Hazmat Commodity: Ethanol

Common Use: Additive to gasoline, solvent for many chemicals.

Risk: Flammable

 

Hazmat Commodity: Ethylene Oxide

Common Use: Production of plastics. Common starting material for other chemicals

Risk: Highly reactive. Inhalation risk-can cause cancer by reacting with DNA in body.

 

Hazmat Commodity: Flammable Liquid, NOS (not otherwise specified)

Common Use: N/A. This could be any type of combustible liquid that does not fall under another classification.

Risk: Flammable.

 

Hazmat Commodity: Hydrochloric Acid

Common Use: Muriatic Acid. Pickling of steel.

Risk: Corrosive-chemical burn. Can give off toxic fumes.

 

Hazmat Commodity: Hypochlorite Solution

Common Use: Bleach. Cleaning and disinfecting 

Risk: Skin irritation

 

Hazmat Commodity: Isobutane

Common Use: Solvent. Starting material for other chemicals.

Risk: Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion 

 

Hazmat Commodity: LP Gas (Liquid Petroleum Gas)

Common Use: Cooking, heating

Risk: Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion 

 

Hazmat Commodity: Methanol

Common Use: Additive to gasoline

Risk: Flammable

 

Hazmat Commodity: Methyl Methacrylate

Common Use: Production of plastics

Risk: Skin Irritant

 

Hazmat Commodity: Pentane

Common Use: Blowing agents in manufacture of polystyrene

Risk: Fire

 

Hazmat Commodity: Petroleum Crude Oil

Common Use: Fuel

Risk: Flammable. Also, if spilled especially into water source it is non soluble.

 

Hazmat Commodity: Phosphoric Acid

Common Use: Making of fertilizer and making additives in detergents.

Risk: Chemical burn

 

Hazmat Commodity: Potassium Hydroxide Solution

Common Use: Making of other chemicals.

Risk: Chemical burn

 

Hazmat Commodity: Propane

Common Use: Barbeque grills,  powers some vehicles

Risk: Flammable. Fire. Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion 

 

 

Hazmat Commodity: Propylene

Common Use: Production of Plastics

Risk: Flammable

 

Hazmat Commodity: Sodium Chlorate

Common Uses: Bleaching paper. Water treatment

Risk: Irritant. Oxidizer-may cause fire or explosion.

 

Hazmat Commodity: Sodium Hydroxide Solution

Common Uses: Making of soaps. Drain cleaner, used in many reactions

Risk:  Corrosive-can cause skin burns or irritation

 

Hazmat Commodity: Styrene

Common Use: Raw material for polystyrene, a type of plastic.  Used in the production of plastics.

Risk: Flammable. Irritant

 

Hazmat Commodity: Sulfur, Molten

Common Use: Production of plastics. Making Sulfuric Acid,  detergents and fertilizers.

Risk: Inhalation risk. Irritant 

 

Hazmat Commodity: Sulfuric Acid

Common use: Commodity chemical or commonly used chemical for multiple applications, making fertilizers.

Risk: Irritant, chemical burns.

 

Hazmat Commodity: Vinyl Chloride

Common Use: Production of plastics

Risk: Carcinogen and Explosion hazard