Sciency Thoughts: Salt Lake City

Showing posts with label Salt Lake City. Show all posts

Monday, 12 December 2016

Museum evacuated after chemical spill.

The Discovery Gateway Children's Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah, was evacuated on Monday 12 December 2016, following a chemical spill. The spill occurred when a forklift overturned or damaged a container of glycol, which then spread through the museum's air conditioning system, reaching much of the ground floor of the building.

A specialist hazmat team responding to the 12 December 2016 Discovery Gateway Center chemical spill in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City Fire Department.

Glycol is a major component of antifreeze as well as being a precursor chemical for polyester. It is not particularly hazardous unless ingested, however it is considered a higher risk to children as it is extremely sweet smelling and tasting, raising the risk of consumption. When consumed glycol is metabolised to glycolic acid and thence to oxalic acid, which is a powerful neurotoxin, as well as attacking the cardiovascular system and kidneys, and which can cause fatal poisoning.

Tuesday, 5 August 2014

House destroyed by landslide in Salt Lake City.

A luxury house has been destroyed by a landslide and several neighbouring properties have had to be evacuated following a landslide on a housing development north of Salt Lake City, Utah on Tuesday 5 August 2014. The event occurred following heavy overnight rain associated with thunderstorms sweeping the area. Landslides are a common problem after severe weather events, as excess pore water pressure can overcome cohesion in soil and sediments, allowing them to flow like liquids. Approximately 90% of all landslides are caused by heavy rainfall. Nobody was hurt in the incident, and the residents of the home, described as a Peruvian family of 10, including young children and grandparents in their 70s, are staying with friends.

The remains of a house destroyed by a landslide in Salt Lake on 5 August 2014. Salt Lake Tribune.

The event involved the collapse of a large area of hill on from a steep slope behind the house, and appears to be a rotational landslide, which can cause poorly consolidated soils to be moved by the weight of sediments on hillslopes some distance away. Such landslides often lead to considerable horizontal movement.

Movement on a rotational landslide, allowing damage to occur distant from a slope. ONE Geology.

The area has apparently suffered similar previous events, with 17 houses destroyed in the area since the 1990s. Houses in the area affected by the 5 August landslip reportedly began to suffer cracks earlier this summer, leading to geotechnical engineers employed by the city to warn residents to be ready for further events.

The full extent of the landslide in Salt Lake on 5 August 2014. Salt Lake Tribune.

Friday, 2 May 2014

Cleanup operation underway in Salt Lake County, Utah, after truck spills 17 000 liters of oil on Interstate 80.

A cleanup operation is underway at Parleys Canyon in Salt Lake County, Utah, after a collision between two trucks resulted in 17 000 liters of crude oil on the Interstate 80 on the morning of Wednesday 30 April 2014. There are no reports of any injuries, but some of the oil reached the Parleys Creek, which serves as a water source for Salt Lake City. The affected part of the river has been sectioned off with a series of booms, and it is hoped that the oil can be removed without the contamination spreading.

Cleanup work beginning at the site of the Parleys Canyon oil spill on Wednesday 30 April 2014. Ravell Call/Deseret News.

The US has suffered a number of oil spills from its transport network in recent months, which oil industry representatives cite as evidence for a need to expand and renew the country's aging network of oil pipelines. Pipelines are undoubtably safer than moving oil by other methods (such as trucks, trains or barges), however a number of large spills from aging pipes have damped public enthusiasm for such projects, and environmental groups frequently express concerns that new pipeline networks will tie the country into dependence on oil for the foreseeable future, at a time when they believe it ought to be diversifying its energy sources, and embracing more renewable technologies such as solar and wind generated electricity.

The approximate location of the 30 April 2014 Parleys Canyon oil spill. Google Maps.