Calculating Toxic Corridors. Revision

Abstract

Method for defining evacuation areas for accidental spills of toxic chemicals are presented. These spills can present serious health hazards to people exposed to excessive vapor concentrations downwind of the accident. An empirical diffusion equation is used to calculate the downwind hazard distance. The width of the toxic corridor, specified in angular degrees centered along the mean wind direction, is based upon the variability of the wind direction. Flexibility in estimating toxic corridor evacuation areas is allowed through a choice of four different methods involving the use of tables, nomograms, and a programmable calculator. Appendices present worksheets, example problems, procedures for determining meteorological units, a procedure for determining evaporative source strength, and other items. Keywords: Toxic chemicals; Diffusion; Dispersion; Air pollution; Toxic corridors; Hazard corridors; Evacuation areas; Disaster preparedness; Emergency actions; Missile propellants; Spills of toxic chemicals; Safety; Meteorology; Toxic hazards.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA221955

Entities

People

  • Jon P. Kahler
  • Raymond A. Kandler
  • Robert G. Curry

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accidents
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Chemistry
  • Chlorides
  • Department Of Defense
  • Dielectric Gases
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Health
  • Health Services
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Testing
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Propellants
  • Rocket Oxidizers
  • Toxicology
  • Vapor Pressure

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Computer Science.
  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
  • Environmental Engineering.