TakePart, 2/8:
Chlorine Trains Pose an Even Deadlier Threat Than Oil Trains
A new report finds the railroad cars that transport the toxic gas around the United States are vulnerable to accidents and sabotage.
Much has been said about the dangers of oil trains following several high-profile accidents, including a fiery 2013 crash in Quebec that killed 50 people. Now a report from Greenpeace points to another potential hazard that could be even deadlier: chlorine trains.
Eighty-six plants across the United States use chlorine gas to produce bleach and repackage bulk chlorine gas for resale in smaller containers, the environmental group found. Most of that chlorine, a lethal toxin being used in weapons by the Syrian military and Islamic State fighters, is moved around the country by rail.
“These facilities often ship, receive, and store their chlorine gas in 90-ton railcars that are typically left unattended en-route or on site, making them vulnerable to accidents and acts of sabotage,” the report said. “These railcars crisscross the country delivering chlorine gas to facilities, endangering the communities through which they travel.”
The report estimated that one in five Americans—nearly 64 million people—live in “vulnerability zones” that are “in danger of a potential worst-case release of chlorine gas” from one of the 86 plants. It did not provide figures on the number of people who live near rail lines that carry the gas.
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