In Paulsboro, New Jersey, vinyl chloride exposed, a bridge collapses, four railroad freight trains derails into the Mantua Creek near the Delaware River around 7:00 a.m. Friday. Also Barack Obama lands in Philadelphia International Airport across the river from the spill.
Vinyl chloride is a Group A human carcinogen. It is also a is a colorless flammable gas a manufactured substance that evaporates very quickly and easily ignited.When breathing vinyl chloride at high levels for even short periods of time, people can experience ill effects including dizziness, sleepiness, and even unconsciousness. Exposure to extremely high levels can cause death. Breathing vinyl chloride for long periods of time can result in permanent liver damage, immune reactions, nerve damage, and liver cancer.
This is the same bridge that collapsed in August 2009 as a 50-car coal train passed over it, spilling 16 cars into the water.
Coast Guard Evacuating Half-Mile Area Around Derailment
LINK: Red Cross info on Shelter-In-Place order
President Barack Obama is visiting Hatfield, Pennsylvania to visit a small business. Obama wants to use it as an example of the types of companies he says will be hurt if lawmakers don’t stop the series of tax increases and spending cuts from going into effect Jan. 1.
Can the gas travel over the Delaware River to the Phila. airport and cause respiratory problems?
