Transportation Chemical Incidents – Week of 4-12-25

Reporting Background

See this post for explanation, with the most recent update here (removed from paywall).

Data from PHMSA’s online database of transportation related chemical incidents that have been reported to the agency.

Incidents Summary

• Number of incidents – 366 (364 highway, 1 air, 1 rail, 0 water)

• Serious incidents – 3 (3 Bulk release, 0 evacuation, 0 injury, 0 death, 0 major artery closed, 0 fire/explosion, 6 no release)

• Largest container involved – 330-gal Plastic IBC {Triethylenetetramine} Punctured by a forklift blade strike.

• Largest amount spilled – 4,000-lbs Rail Boxcar {Ammonium Nitrate, With Not More Than 0.2%  of Combustible Materials, Including Any Organic Substance Calculated as Carbon to The Exclusion of Any Other Added Substance} Door partially open on railcar.

NOTE: Links above are to Form 5800.1 for the described incidents. Links in database no longer appear to be working.

Most Interesting Chemical: Sodium Monoxide – A white granular material. It reacts with water to give sodium hydroxide with the evolution of heat. It is corrosive to metals and tissue. It is used in chemical manufacture. The oxides of sodium and potassium react with water vigorously and with enough evolution of heat to cause boiling and spattering of hot caustic solution. (Source: CameoChemicals.NOAA.gov).