#phosgene gas

[thingstrumperssay]

So I just found out about the train that was carrying dangerous chemicals (like Phosgene gas) that exploded in Ohio. And their solution to this is to release some of the gas a bit at a time.

Instead of making paragraphs about how this could’ve been avoided, I’m going to just say that if you live in or near Ohio, get out, now.

From what I’m reading it’s traveling north towards Canada. I dunno if it’ll dissipate on it’s own but I do know that it’s extremely dangerous to breathe in.

Red Roof Inns are usually pretty cheap and will allow pets. I believe you can book a hotel room 24/7 as long as you call.

I’m trying to see if there’s a travel map for the gas.

I might have to pack up and go to Tennessee temporarily, (I have in-laws there) depending on how they handle it. (It doesn’t look like they’re handling it well at all.) If that happens I can’t say anything about this for a while.

If you do need help getting a place to stay I can’t help financially, but I can help look for a fairly cheap place for you to stay in.

Edit: Okay I guess this happened a week ago and I’m just finding out about this.

So I guess maybe it’s okay to be in states near Ohio now. I still wouldn’t return there though. I think they released some of the gas yesterday.

[liesmyteachertoldme]

Did you hear about the Ohio train crash last week that sent a plume of toxic gas into the air and is reportedly killing animals for miles around?

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio – Days after crews released and burned toxic chemicals carried by a train that wrecked in Ohio, residents were concerned about toxic substances that could be lingering in their evacuated neighborhoods.

About 50 cars, including 10 carrying hazardous materials, derailed in a fiery crash Friday in East Palestine, according to rail operator Norfolk Southern and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Vinyl chloride was released into the air Monday from five of those cars before crews ignited it to get rid of the highly flammable toxic chemicals in a controlled environment, creating a dark plume of smoke.

Vinyl chloride is associated with increased risk of liver cancer and other cancers, according to the federal government’s National Cancer Institute.

The effect was studied in PVC pipemakers who breathed in vinyl chloride and developed rare liver cancers, said Ruth Lunn, who studies carcinogens at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Officials warned the controlled burn would send phosgene and hydrogen chloride into the air. Phosgene is a highly toxic, colorless gas with a strong odor that can cause vomiting and breathing trouble and was used as a weapon in World War I.

Note: How could burning toxic gases in an open and populated area be considered safe?

[kradogsrats]

update: just spent a solid hour researching whether you could synthesize carbon tetrachloride without electricity, and the answer is tentatively “yes” so this questionably erotic fiction will feature hazardous chemical solvents at BOTH beginning and end

I considered while drafting tags for the final fic putting a jokey one like “use and disposal of hazardous chemical solvents not approved by OSHA” in there but I’m all too aware that the automatic assumption would be that they’re being used as lube

ah yes the most important part of any piece of questionably erotic fiction: proper disposal of flammable hazardous waste solvents

[aita-blorbos]

AITA for cooking meth with my former chemistry student, killing two people, and lying to my family about it?

I (50M) was recently diagnosed with inoperable, likely fatal lung cancer. I work at a highschool as a chemistry teacher, but both the pay and the students are terrible. Case in point, my "lab partner" (24M) - who we'll call "Cap'n" because of course he'd insist on a stupid nickname like that - not only completely flunked my class, but then went on to skip college entirely and become a meth-addicted drug dealer instead.

Understandably, I was a little shaken after receiving my diagnosis. It came as a surprise since I've never smoked, I keep myself in relatively fair health, etc. (Recently my wife has taken to vegan bacon- apparently it helps lower cholesterol, but I digress.) I haven't told my family about the situation yet; I'm still trying to figure out how to "let the cat out of the bag", not to mention I doubt my wife will take it very well.

As for deciding to try cooking methamphetamine, well. I'm not really sure how to explain it, exactly, but there's a lot of money in it, money that would benefit my family, and I don't have much to lose anymore. This may sound cliche, but it's as though I'm really awake for the first time in my life.

Cap'n and I formed a partnership by circumstance only; I found out he was in "the business" and offered to either turn him into the DEA or work with me, and he naturally took the second option. He had no idea what he was doing on the chemistry side of things - chili powder in the meth! applying heat to an Erlenmeyer flask! no wonder I flunked him, he clearly learned nothing in my class - but does know the trade.

(Note: Don't buy all of your supplies from the same store.)

Sorry, I'm getting too far into the weeds here, let me skip ahead. We purchased a trailer and drove out to somewhere in the middle of the desert to cook without added attention or need for dramatic cleanup if we had to leave the area in a hurry. Our first batch was, according to Cap'n, "pure glass." After all of that complaining, I had cooked the finest product he'd ever seen on the first try! Goes to show paying attention in school does pay off, ahem. In case any of you were reading this and thinking of skipping off to go and make highly illegal substances and risk years in prison instead of doing your homework. You all still have your entire lives ahead of you. I don't.

After making it, the next logical course of action was to sell. Cap'n said he had some connections - I mean, he is a drug dealer, I saw no reason not to trust him (I now see how little sense that makes.) - and came back with two men with guns pointed at both of us. You must understand, it was a kill or be killed situation. These are the kind of people who don't care about morals, or what's right or ethical or kind. If they'd lived... not just me, but my wife, my son, and my entire family would all be in serious, mortal danger. I had no choice.

Cap'n by this point had been knocked out cold- still alive, but entirely unhelpful with the situation at hand. I was on my own. So I offered to show the goons how I made the "glass", surely they wanted to see how it was done? And they did- I still can't believe that actually worked. But, ah, instead of actually cooking anything, I gave them... let's call it a chemistry lesson. When significant heat is applied to red phosphorus - a key ingredient in Cap'n and I's "extracurricular science project" - it oxidizes. Your result is phosgene gas, highly deadly, hence the "killing two people." One... technically isn't dead yet- somehow he managed to survive, I still don't fully understand how, but I'm... I'm working on it. Cap'n still has yet to get rid of the first body, so... technically I'm not failing to withhold my share of the cleanup, since he hasn't done so with his.

I realize now this is very long, but I wanted to explain the context for my actions. However, a tl;dr for those who might be in a hurry: I was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, so with nothing else to lose decided to try to make some money for my family by cooking and selling methamphetamine. Coincidentally, a former student of mine was also in the business, and I convinced him to work with me. When we tried to put our product on the market, two people tried to kill us, so I acted in self-defense.

But I really, really must know... is what I did wrong? Should I have been content to live the rest of however-long-I-have-left working a miserable job as a public high school chemistry teacher instead? Should I have found a less fatal way of dealing with the two men who tried to kill me and my partner? AITA?

P.S. It's pretty late as I'm typing this so I might've made some errors in coherency or grammar, for which I apologize.

[madnessofmen]

If yes, please elaborate on how it happened. If multiple, select the most extreme (further down on the list).

[scotianostra]

May 2nd 1860 saw the birth of physiologist John Scott Haldane in Edinburgh.

He attended Edinburgh University and the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, before graduating in medicine at Edinburgh in 1884. He was then appointed Demonstrator in Physiology at University College, Dundee, where he investigated the composition of the air in dwellings and schools.

In 1887 he joined is uncle at Oxford University but later left when the title Professor of Physiology was denied him. His early studies included the respiration hazards that coal miners were exposed to, and his report emphasized the lethal effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. In 1898 he created the Haldane Gas Apparatus.

He began to study caisson disease in underground workers which connected to decompression sickness, also commonly known as "the bends." His work in this field lead him to produce the tables for staged decompression, which prevented the development of nitrogen bubbles in the diver's tissue as they ascended from their working depth.

Haldane's approach was in contrast to French physiologist Paul Bert's continuous - ascent decompression procedures of that period. Although developed for the trade of diving in 1907, the staged tables are equally applicable in the recreational and technical diving fields. Engineers sought his opinion on ventilation and respiratory issues when designing submarines, tunnels, mines and ships.

In 1915 Yale University honoured Haldane by selecting him to deliver the Silliman Lectures. The lectures became the basis for his 1922 book Respiration, which is recognised as a landmark work in the field. Haldane received numerous awards and honours for his work.

His work on high altitude physiology, diving physiology, oxygen therapy, and carbon monoxide poisoning led to a sea change in clinical medicine and improved safety and reduced mortality and morbidity in many high risk situations. During the First World War Haldane was able to identify the use of disabling chlorine and phosgene gas by the Germans, and designed the first gas masks for use in chemical warfare and also an oxygen therapy equipment to treat its victims.

John Scott Haldane died in Oxford on the night of 14 March/15 March 1936, soon after returning from a trip to investigate cases of heat stroke in the oil refineries in Persia, he made lasting contributions to improved working conditions years before health and safety itself became an industry, and he never failed to give credit to colleagues. He is considered as ‘Father of Oxygen Therapy’.

[arospecsyourblockdudes]

@into-the-spirals-of-my-eyes I 100 see the vision, I love it. However, with Scar’s general bravado I also really see him being this hotshot American flying ace, lies his way into the British Air Force in like 1915 before the USA enters the war and captures hearts across Europe, somehow surviving some truly crazy shit. Grian is his bestie in the squadron, who’s a little more jaded from war than Scar is, little too ok with killing folks, but they always crack jokes together and he makes games of shooting down German planes

No idea anyone else. Jimmy’s dead meat tho I tell you what

Some people are so lucky that they get hyperfixations on things they can like do crossovers or aus with. How am I going to insert any of my other interests in World War 1

[itstimewehavesomesoliddick]

Seriously though Israel has been so bad at making fakes for this one it's hilarious, I thought they were supposed to be high IQ?

The "detailed plan to kill kids in schools" (on Shabbat), the "intercepted phone call recording" (with two audio channels), the USB with "plans for a cyanide dispersal machine" (a gas lighter than air that can take up to an hour to kill someone and that was dropped in favor of phosgene in WW1 for being a shitty chemical weapon), the amount of "trust me bro it's real", just come on

[erteona]

Hello everyone

I was inspired by other artists who are reworking somewhat orignal paste stories and decided that I would try it too. So here's Eyeless Jack (I decided that if you dislike it in this form, it would become my OC).

I want to point out that his story is still not worked out by me and there are plot gaps, etc. Also, the drawings are only serve to better visualize the character however, they do not have to be factually correct and may differ from each other (that uniform didn't work out for me but I was already losing my nerve over it lol). I tried to model on actual history but I'm not an expert on British army.

In my version, he is a soldier of English descent who ends up on the Old Continent to help soldiers fight the enemy as a field medic. In 1915, the Germans introduce phosgene and diphosgene as a battle gas (characterized by the smell of fresh-cut grass, it accounted for 85% of soldier deaths btw). During one of the battles in which Jack participated, it was used to fight an ententa, but gas masks were used as a way to deal with the poisonous fumes. While fighting an enemy entrant in the trenches, a soldier managed to rip off his mask which immediately resulted in gas poisoning and chemical burns to organs (trachea, eyes and lungs). Despite the help of comrades and medical attention, he could not make it due to his injuries being too extensive.

I haven't quite worked out the part with what he does as a posthumous wanderer. But I was thinking of something along those lines:

As a phantom of a soldier who died too young (did I say he was of college age? No? Now you know) under tragic circumstances, he appears in places like battlefields/fields/open spaces in misty, cloudy, rainy or snowy weather and sows terror among the already terrified soldiers at the prospect of sudden death. It reveals itself mainly to the stranded and near-death without letting them forget what awaits them in the near future.

I hope you enjoyed it and it's really nice that someone is reading it <3

[todaysdocument]

WWI Experience of Capt. Clark Owsley

Record Group 120: Records of the American Expeditionary Forces (World War I)Series: Records of Divisions

November 9, 1918 My Experience at the Front On the morning of October 6, 1918 , I started out from Somme Suippe with the Headquarters company , Captain Miiller in command We were going on a journey but where we did not know or [overwritten: from] how far About half way to our destination our order came back from Col. Bloor thru Lt. A.H. Carrigan to put an officer at the rear of his company to watch for straglers I being the only offices who was not attached to the company, or who did not have a platoon, was posted in the rear to watch for [illegible due to blurred ink stain]. The regiment progressed nicely without ^stray^ [illegible due to blurred ink stain] man falling out. As soon as we had arrivedat our destination, I reported to [crossed out : the] Capt. Miller, that the Regiment [crossed out: had ] did not have any stragglers . We arrived at our destination about three-thirty and about six o'clock, Capt. Nelson sent for me to report to him. I reported and he gave me orders to go to Somme-Py and meet a party of officers and men, who were to guide us into the line. This was my first knowledge of us going[ g overwritten] into the front. I got in^to^ [into] a motorcycle- side car & was driven to Somme-Py. When I arrived there, the Boche were shelling the cross-roads and my first knowdege of this was that the Frecnh and American soldiers were ducking their heads & falling into [typed above crossed out "on their"] ditches. I got out of the car & soon became doing the same as I hadseen the French & American soldiers do, duck. I was to meet the party near the old church at Somme Py. I went immediately to the old church and remained there until I met a Lieutenant that said he was looking for a "Guide" from 141st Inf. or some unknown Regiment. I told him that I was the guide for the 142nd Inf. and would give him to where the Colonel was. So he decided that it was the 142nd Inf. and proceed to go with me. I guided him to the place the Colonel was. It was now about 8:30 o' clock. At about 9:15 o'clock we started for the front. ("The" over written] We passed over roads which were being shelled continuously, but soon we arrived at our new P.[?G or C]. As soon as we had gotten settled there I [ "soon" crossed out] ask to see the Reg. Gas. Officer and he informed me that they had never had a gas attach and there was absolutely no danger of gas. [The following paragraph is underlined in red] On October 8, 1918, we had our first experience in going over the top. During our advance the Boche threw mustard gas, di-phosgene and Di Phogene chloropicrin [see comments ] gas upon our advancing men. Very few casualties resulted from the gas. this was due to the well discipline ["ci" is written above crossed out "er" ] of gas training. [crossed out] Lt. Murphy, 2nd Bat. Gas Officer was wounded, and the officers of the first and third could not keep in touch with the their battalion. [end crossed out] We had a great [? number], wounded and killed. As I would pass by a dead American, I would sometime think, but when by a dead Boche [full transcription at link]

[icecreamwithjackdaniels]

A. Kirkpatrick Maxwell (Scottish, 1884–1975). Plates from An Atlas of Gas Poisoning (1918), published by Great Britain's Medical Research Committee.

Plate I. Microscopic section of human lung from phosgene shell poisoning. Death at the nineteenth hour after gassing.

Plate X. Microscopic section of human lung from mustard gas poisoning, with death at end of second day (40 hours).

[bearkunin]

So today Biden announced that the United States has finalised the destruction of its chemical weapon stocks:

I'm just using that to launch into a more interesting fun fact that Australia is still working on destroying its chemical weapon stockpiles, despite never manufacturing them. During WW2 we received stocks from the US and Britain of mustard gas, phosgene, lewisite, adamsite and CN gas.

Following WW2, most of these were destroyed, unfortunately just by burning them or dumping them in the ocean, which is... not ideal. There's been a number of environmental issues because of this.

In subsequent decades, we repeatedly discovered new stockpiles of chemical weapons, typically literally just in sheds where they'd been forgotten about. As late as 2009, 267 250-lb buried chemical bombs were extracted from Marrangaroo Army Base. These are gradually being safely disposed of.

Geoff Plunkett is a historian that has written extensively on this topic if anyone wants to read more.

[victusinveritas]

Chemical Warfare Service would easily be the most alarming opponent of all of these, though playing against the entirely of Russia, a railroad, or a battleship would also present unique challenges.

“Uh coach their punter just kicked a phosgene shell at us, now what?”

“GAS GAS QUICK BOYS!”

[chamerionwrites]

Now and then I circle back around to thinking about this podcast I once listened to, comparing modern chemical weapons and air power as two relatively new military technologies that saw widespread use during the world wars. For a while there it was standard if never fully accepted practice (all the asphyxiating gas attacks of WWI were war crimes under preexisting international law) to drop phosgene or mustard gas on soldiers and while it would ofc be deeply absurd to say that chemical warfare ever stopped, there was a concerted effort to walk some of it back.

On the other hand in the space of about thirty years we went from guys with handguns leaning out the window of a biplane to take potshots at each other while doing aerial reconnaissance to...firebombing Dresden. And firebombing Tokyo. And using atomic weapons.

And somehow dropping bombs on a city became a standard, accepted part of warfare in a way that dropping sarin on a city is not.

[3liza]

whenever something awful happens someone will make a post like jesus christ this is really bad and then four crusty guys will always show up in the notes going "STOP FEARMONGERING WHY ARE YOU LYING STOP SPREADING PANIC". anyway yes you should really be that worried about actual phosgene gas spreading across the ground currents and toxic runoff into the water supply in ohio

[espys-art-stuff]

This has been brushed under the table by Wall Street (who own Norfolk Southern) and the Ohio/Pennsylvania govts, but reporting on it because it's a disaster: As a result of rail corruption/mismanagement (and USgov thanos snapping the rail strikes), a Norfolk Southern chemical freight train was derailed and spilled its load on Feb 3 near East Palestine (a town on the very eastern side of Ohio), which then apparently exploded. [Apparently. Lots of claims going around, but I can't find a source.] They decided to burn the vinyl chloride to stop it from leeching into the environment further, because letting it leech into the air was better I guess. This is relevant for anyone living in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and potentially Western New York. The chemicals reported to be carried were Vinyl Chloride [carcinogen with a boiling point of 8F/-13C that releases dangerous gases into the atmosphere], Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether, Ethylhexyl Acrylate [carcinogen], and Isobutylene. The train was 50 cars long.

Immediate effects have shown up in East Ohio and West PA, including reports of "acrid smells", as well as smoke clouds and fish, birds, and foxes turning up dead. Contaminants are confirmed to have reached the Ohio River and have leeched into the water supply of vulnerable towns in West Virginia. Local water sources and well water should be avoided and treated with scrutiny, as far as Eastern/southern Ohio, Northern WV, and Western PA. It is unclear what other water supplies have been contaminated, but veering on the side of caution for now is better - tests are still being taken and the situation is developing.

As a result of the burn, Phosgene gas and Hydrogen Chloride are spreading into the atmosphere. Hydrogen Chloride, now pumped into the air as a result of the burn, bonds with water vapor and turns into Hydrochloric Acid. This may cause acid rain. The wind is blowing west to northeast and affects Eastern Ohio, Pennsylvania and potentially, should it reach far enough, parts of Western NY (though it's unclear how far this is going to spread). This will affect people and animals over the long term on a scale comparable to 9/11 and some of the worst oil spills, and was entirely preventable had rail companies not cut corners on the operation and safety of their trains and train routes. Additionally, two more trains with hazardous material have derailed in South Carolina and Texas, though no known burns have occurred from those yet.