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An explosion occurred at a fertilizer plant in the town of West, Texas, on Wednesday, April 17, 2013, devastating a populated neighborhood. A total of 15 people were killed, and approximately 160 more people were injured. Approximately 150 buildings were damaged in the explosion, and the damage to affected homes and businesses was estimated to exceed $100 million. This research documents the building damages caused by the unprecedented explosion and evaluates the technical information for the explosion. The Part I paper of this research focused on the building damage documentation and air-blast incident overpressure calculations. As a companion paper, this manuscript (Part II) primarily focuses on the study of blast-induced ground-shock effects. The ground shock-induced building damages and ground vibration peak particle velocities (PPVs) are analyzed. With a combined consideration of these two types of blast loadings, the air-blast incident overpressures and ground shocks, the field investigated damages caused by the West Fertilizer plant explosion are explained in a more precise manner. The air-blast incident overpressure is identified as the dominant factor for the damages of both wood light-frame buildings and engineering buildings. The ground shock is the secondary factor but is still important. Concluding the research outcomes in the Part I and Part II papers, this study proposes a four-scale blast-induced damage severity evaluation system, demonstrates efficient blastloading calculation methods for both the air-blast incident overpressure and ground-shock PPV, and provides a correlation between the blast loadings and the blast-induced damages for the West Fertilizer plant explosion case. The documentation and analyses that resulted from this research could serve as a good case study for better understanding of the blast loadings and building structural responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An explosion occurred at a fertilizer plant in the town of West, Texas, on Wednesday, April 17, 2013, devastating a populated neighborhood. A total of 15 people were killed, and approximately 160 people were injured. Approximately 150 buildings were damaged in the explosion. The damage to affected homes and businesses was estimated to exceed $100 million. The purpose of this study was to collect on-site technical data of the explosion and gain knowledge of blast loadings and structural responses from this unprecedented explosion. Specifically, this research documented the building damages caused by the West Fertilizer plant explosion and the affected buildings' construction and materials and evaluated the technical information for the explosion, including the blast loadings, i.e., the air-blast incident overpressures and ground shocks, on different buildings with respect to the standoff distances. A total of two technical papers have been prepared. The Part I paper (this manuscript) focused on the building damage documentation and air-blast incident overpressure estimation for the West Fertilizer plant explosion case. The Part II paper focused on the effects of the ground shock caused by this West Fertilizer plant explosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the mortality experience among 3,199 workers employed 1951-1976 at a phosphate fertilizer production plant in central Florida with follow-up through2011. Methods Cause-specific standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for the full cohort were calculated with the U.S. population as referent. Lung cancer and leukemia risks were further analyzed using conditional logistic regression. Results The mortality due to all-causes (SMR¼1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.13, observed deaths [n]¼1,473), all-cancers (SMR¼1.16, 95%CI 1.06-1.28, n¼431), and a priori outcomes of interests including lung cancer (SMR¼1.32, 95% CI¼1.13-1.53, n¼168) and leukemia (SMR¼1.74, 95%CI¼1.11-2.62, n¼23) were statistically significantly elevated. Regression modeling on employment duration or estimated radiation scores did not show exposure-response relation with lung cancer or leukemia mortality. Conclusion SMR results showed increased lung cancer and leukemia mortality in a full cohort of the phosphate fertilizer production facility. There was, however, no exposure-response relation observed among cases and matched controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted to determine the effects of different fertilizer treatments [organic (F1), inorganic (F2) and ½ organic + ½ inorganic (F3)] on nitrogen and water use efficiency of hybrid corn cultivars [PR 31Y43 (C1), OSSK-644 (C2), and Lacasta (C3)] in the years 2011 and 2012 under the ecological conditions of Eskipazar-Karabuk. In both research years, fertilizer treatments were statistically significant on nitrogen and irrigation water use efficiency. The highest irrigation water and nitrogen use efficiency values were obtained from F2 and F3 fertilizer treatments. The highest nitrogen uptake efficiency values were obtained from F2 fertilizer treatment. As a result of the research, the highest values of nitrogen and irrigation water use efficiency were obtained from F2 and F3 fertilizer treatments in all three corn cultivars (C1, C2, and C3). Integrated use of chemical fertilizer and poultry manure may be a good approach for sustainable production of crops. When we consider the sums paid for the import of inorganic fertilizers and the negative effects of these inorganic fertilizers on human and environmental health, we may see that F3 fertilizer application would be preferable in the regions where corn is grown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of research was to assess the changes of annual radial increment of Scots pine forests in the vicinity of intensive and moderate industrial pollution of 'Achema' factory producing mineral fertilizers. Our results indicate that the radial growth of the pine tree can be divided into three different periods: growth promotion, growth inhibition and growth recovery. Low levels of nitrogen emissions were beneficial for tree growth: the radial increment in the intensive and moderate pollution zones increased by 15-25% and 10%, respectively compared to control. During the growth inhibition period, the total annual industrial emission was 37-40 kt, and 40-45% radial growth loss was observed for the closest and 15-20% for the most distant stands. The radial growth decrease slowed down and the recovery of damaged stands began in 1990-1992 then air pollution was considerably reduced. The rate of forest recovery was high for the most damaged stands: their radial growth was close to control in 2000-2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activity concentrations of soil, water and fertilizer samples were determined by using high-resolution gamma spectrometry (HPGe detector: 40% relative efficiency) with a PC-based MCA system. The samples were collected from the area of a urea fertilizer factory, lagoon and Shitalakhya river in Narsingdi, Bangladesh. The activity concentrations of 226Ra ranged from 3.16 ± 0.32 to 10.28 ± 0.55 Bq.kg-1, 1.22 ± 0.41 to 7.36 ± 0.42 Bq.L-1 and 3.55 ± 0.33 to 90.65 ± 3.17 Bq.kg-1 for soil, water and fertilizer samples, respectively. The 232Th activity concentrations ranged from 4.89 ± 0.45 to 15.82 ± 0.45 Bq.kg-1, 1.21 ± 0.06 to 8.59 ± 0.37 Bq. L-1 and 4.76 ± 0.25 to 26.38 ± 1.40 Bq.kg-1 for soil, water and fertilizer samples, respectively. The 40K activity concentrations ranged from 24.96 ± 0.23 to 60.49 ± 0.56 Bq.kg-1, 7.48 ± 0.53 to 35.48 ± 0.24 Bq.L-1 and 3.55 ± 0.05 to 3051.71 ± 19.53 Bq.kg-1 for these samples, respectively. The radium equivalent activity, the hazard indices, the gamma activity concentration index, the indoor absorbed dose rate and the corresponding annual effective dose were estimated for the potential radiological hazard of the collected samples. The calculated values of the representative level index values (I?r) for all samples of the study area are lower than unity except the MOP sample. The activity ratios were also measured. These values are compared with reported values for other countries of the world. The results of the comparison studies show that the radioactivity concentrations and other radioactive indices of the samples of the study area are below the internationally accepted maximum permissible values. Therefore, this region is safe from any radiation hazard and no significant radiological threat was observed to the population of the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The genotoxic and toxic potential of polluted surface water exposed to a fertilizer factory effluent was evaluated using assays with fish (Cyprinus carpio) and plant (Lemna minor) model organisms. Beside classical physicochemical parameters, the contents of fluorides, some heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were analyzed as well. Surface water caused inhibition of plant growth and decrease of photosynthetic pigment content. Regarding DNA damage and oxidative stress parameters, both fish and plants showed similar response to the surface water. In confirmation to biochemical markers, histopathological analysis of gill and liver tissues revealed a higher incidence of lesions in fish exposed to polluted surface water. Generally, results obtained by biological monitoring were mostly in agreement with chemical analysis of the surface water, although several discrepancies were observed which might be due to difference in sensitivity of model organisms or in experimental conditions (laboratory and field exposure). The results imply that conventional chemical analysis should be extended to genotoxicity/toxicity assays as measured biological effects and the potential health hazard cannot be predicted based on the physicochemical characteristics of water samples alone. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A study is presented that measures the possible effects of aerosol and gas exposure on the lung function of 383 workers in a nitrate fertilizer plant in Norway between 2007 and 2010. It notes that although the overall median inhalable and thoracic aerosol exposure levels measured during the course of the study were just 1.1 and 0.21 milligrams per cubic meter respectively, the study detected an adjusted annual Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV) decline of 18 millimeters among participating workers.

In an estuary system highly polluted by mining and industrial activities, the sections of sediment cores affected by anthropogenic inputs of U-series radionuclides (due to fertilizer plants releases) were determined through the vertical profiles of Th-isotopic ratio (230Th/232Th). Also, when possible, a modified version of the 210Pb dating method was applied in the uncontaminated sections of these cores. Using the information provided by the Th-isotopic ratio and 210Pb methods, we were able to establish confident chronologies, covering the last century, in several of the analysed sediment cores. These chronologies will be used in forthcoming research to study the time evolution of pollutant concentrations in the estuary. Additionally, and based on the established chronologies, we have found that sedimentation rates have drastically increased in some zones of the estuary since the commencement of several industrial activities in the surrounding environment and since the construction of two dikes in the area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

On August 1, 2013, the President signed Executive Order (EO) 13650 designed to improve the safety and security of chemical facilities and reduce the risks of hazardous chemicals to workers and communities. The Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security EO, triggered by incidents such as the devastating explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas in April, 2013, directed the Federal Government to: Improve operational coordination with state and local partners;, Enhance Federal agency coordination and information sharing;, Modernize policies, regulations, and standards; and, Work with stakeholders to identify best practices., Considerable work was devoted to these issues over a 10-month period and on June 6, 2014, the final report, 'Executive Order 13650: Actions to Improve Chemical Facility Safety and Security - A Shared Commitment. Report for the President' was released to the public. The report highlights current activities to improve chemical safety and security and provides a plan for moving forward in five thematic areas: Strengthening community planning and preparedness;, Enhancing Federal operations and coordination;, Improving data management;, Modernizing policies and regulations; and, Incorporating stakeholder feedback and developing best practices., This article provides a brief update on current and future activities at the US Environmental Protection Agency under this EO Report to the President. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Process Saf Prog 34: 196-198, 2015 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]