Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
Training Support Package
Participant Guide
Slide 40
Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism:
TICs & TIMs
Phosgene
• BASF Plant Ascension
Parish, LA
– 1981: Plant operator killed
– 1982: 28 workers injured
– 1986: phosgene plume
over unpopulated parts
of Ascension Parish
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Map_of
_Louisiana_highlighting_Ascension_Parish.svg
Module One – Toxic Industrial Gases as Terrorist Threats
40
During the 1980s there were several releases of phosgene from an industrial plant in
Ascension Parish, LA. During one release the plant operator was killed and during
another release, 28 workers were injured. During another event, phosgene was released
with the wind carrying a plume outside the plant, fortunately over an unpopulated area.
Ascension Parish (shown in red in the map of Louisiana on the slide) accounted for ~1/4
of all the TRI (Toxic Release Inventory) chemical releases from the 64 parishes in LA at
that time. A very small fraction of that 120,000,000 pounds was phosgene (1,493
pounds). Despite the small amount, the local area effect of a release is still significant.
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