Beirut ammonium nitrate explosion: Are not we really learning anything?

Pasman, Hans J.; Fouchier, Charline; Park, Sunhwa; Quddus, Noor; Laboureur, Delphine

doi:10.1002/prs.12203

Cited by 38 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…This review complements recent reports (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18) and further provide an in-depth analysis of the Beirut blast and its health and environmental implications, and suggests actionable recommendations and strategies.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 67%

Beirut Ammonium Nitrate Blast: Analysis, Review, and Recommendations

Al-Hajj

Dhaini

Mondello

et al. 2021

Front. Public Health

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A massive chemical detonation occurred on August 4, 2020 in the Port of Beirut, Lebanon. An uncontrolled fire in an adjacent warehouse ignited ~2,750 tons of Ammonium Nitrate (AN), producing one of the most devastating blasts in recent history. The blast supersonic pressure and heat wave claimed the lives of 220 people and injured more than 6,500 instantaneously, with severe damage to the nearby dense residential and commercial areas. This review represents one of the in-depth reports to provide a detailed analysis of the Beirut blast and its health and environmental implications. It further reviews prior AN incidents and suggests actionable recommendations and strategies to optimize chemical safety measures, improve emergency preparedness, and mitigate the delayed clinical effects of blast and toxic gas exposures. These recommended actionable steps offer a starting point for government officials and policymakers to build frameworks, adopt regulations, and implement chemical safety protocols to ensure safe storage of hazardous materials as well as reorganizing healthcare system disaster preparedness to improve emergency preparedness in response to similar large-scale disasters and promote population safety. Future clinical efforts should involve detailed assessment of physical injuries sustained by blast victims, with systemic mitigation and possible treatment of late blast effects involving individuals, communities and the region at large.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 67%

Beirut Ammonium Nitrate Blast: Analysis, Review, and Recommendations

Al-Hajj

Dhaini

Mondello

et al. 2021

Front. Public Health

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“…In addition, Diaz [47] using images and videos' recordings of the explosion posted on social media, estimated the magnitude of the blast to be in the order of 1100 tons TNT while Aouad et al [48] using fireball analysis, estimated the magnitude of the blast to be equivalent to 810 tons TNT. Also, Stennett et al [49] and Pasman et al [50] using videos posted on social media in addition to analyzing the crater formed by the blast [50] estimated the blast magnitude to an equivalent 637 tons of TNT with lower and upper bounds of 407 and 1000 tons and 650 tons of TNT with lower and upper bounds of 300 and 1000 tons respectively. Also, Valsamos et al [51], based on the geospatial data taken from the open-source world map OpenStreetMap, estimated the blast magnitude to an equivalent 1100 tons TNT.…”

Section: Comparison Between Site Measurements and The Results Of The Numerical Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Case study of the Beirut port explosion using 3D laser scan and nonlinear finite element model

Ismail¹,

Raphaël²,

Durand³

2021

Res. Eng. Struct. Mater.

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explosion is presented in this paper. The structural response of the silos due to the blast loading imposed by the explosion was assessed using 3D laser scan. Then, the silos were modeled using three-dimensional finite element models using Abaqus explicit. The silos' damage and failure were investigated to estimate the blast magnitude and to check the silos structural response against the silos' concrete strength and additional reinforcement and concrete coating added to the silos in 2000. In addition to the effects of reinforcing the ribs between the silos as well as the soil and foundation. Therefore, these parameters were tested after estimating the blast magnitude to check the structural status of the remaining part of the Beirut port silos (if they can be reusable), the role played by the foundation and soil and if the silos' response would have changed if certain parameters were taken differently in the design. In this article, the damage and silos' displacement obtained from the numerical models were compared to the results obtained by the 3D laser scan. The results of this investigated article show that a blast magnitude of 337.5 tons TNT (938 tons of Ammonium Nitrate) best captures the silos' displacement and damage amount. The silos exhibit a tilt between 20 and 30 cm in the direction of the blast. The numerical results indicate that constructing the silos with higher compressive strength would not have affected the silos' damage. Nevertheless, adding the extra concrete coating and reinforcement layer in 2000 to the outer silos decreased the amount of damage in the silos. Moreover, reinforcing the ribs between the silos would have decreased the silos displacement and damage amount. Finally, the soil and the foundation played a positive role in the explosion by absorbing part of the released energy while the silos, in the current state, cannot be reused.

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“…Because red gas was reported in the Beirut explosion (see Pasman 22 ), this reaction has been added to this paper as an intermediate reaction to full decomposition.…”

Section: The Chemistry Of the Decomposition Processmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Exothermic dissociation of ammonium nitrate to nitrous oxide and water 22,23

{NH}_{4} {NO}_{3} ((), solid) ➔ N_{2} normalO ((), gas) + {2H}_{2} normalO ((), vapor) .

…”

Section: Simulation and Reactions Used In This Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

The nature of ammonium nitrate decomposition and explosions

Willey

2020

Process Safety Progress

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Ammonium nitrate explosions can cause significant destruction as shown with examples in West, Texas (2013) and Tianjin, China (2015). Yet, ammonium nitrate is available in nearly every garden center, and serves as one of the major fertilizers used throughout the world. Why is it safe to store in a garden center, and yet not safe when stored in wooden framed buildings? This presentation explores the nature of ammonium nitrate decomposition steps using a process simulator where adiabatic, constant pressure, and constant volume scenarios are evaluated. Answers are simple, yet complex. The first decomposition step is endothermic. In other words, there is a natural barrier that needs to be overcome before further decomposition. Further explanations are offered within the paper.

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Beirut ammonium nitrate explosion: Are not we really learning anything?

Cited by 38 publications

References 20 publications

Beirut Ammonium Nitrate Blast: Analysis, Review, and Recommendations

Beirut Ammonium Nitrate Blast: Analysis, Review, and Recommendations

Case study of the Beirut port explosion using 3D laser scan and nonlinear finite element model

The nature of ammonium nitrate decomposition and explosions

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