WATCH: Reporter Robin Gill explains what trichloroisocyanuric acid is used for -and why area residents are being told to close their windows and stay indoors
The trichloroisocyanuric acid burning in shipping containers at Port Metro Vancouver, causing evacuations to the east of downtown Vancouver, is “a moderate skin irritant, a moderate respiratory irritant and moderated eye irritant all rolled into one,” according to the President of BC Hazmat.
“It is toxic by ingestion, it will kill if you drink it. But all are moderate, which means it’s going to be a low amount of chemical that you’re going to be exposed to,” says Dave Rogers.
Here’s what you need to know about trichloroisocyanuric acid:
It is a white, sandy powder with a chlorine odor: Trichloroisocyanuric acid is used mainly to treat water, and is often used in swimming pools or as a bleaching agent for textiles.
“The chemical that is burning is used as a disinfectant for water and other bleaching agents. When it burns, it is going to be releasing chlorine gas,” says Karen Bartlett, a professor and air pollution specialist at the University of British Columbia.
Trichloroisocyanuric acid can cause a fire when it comes into contact with combustible material, but there is little risk of an explosion.
It is an irritant: “It’s definitely a respiratory irritant, it’s also an eye irritant,” says Bartlett, who says that people may be exposed if they smell the chlorine odor from the gas.
If people come into contact with the gas, effects can include burning and irritable skin and eyes. Inhaling the acid can irritate the nose, throat and lungs. Drinking it, if in a liquid form, can be fatal.
“It’s the irritancy of the gas. There’s the possibility that there will be an inflammatory response and the lungs don’t like irritancy. They produce fluid. We don’t want to see anyone get fluid on the lung,” she said.
The hazard is moderate: It is considered a moderate, level two (out of four) health hazard and reactivity hazard.
“It’s going to be a low amount of chemical that you’re going to be exposed to,” says Rogers.
“What the general public should know is…keeping their windows and doors shut and turning off their air conditioning, so their outdoor air does not come into their living spaces.”
While people fighting the fire are at risk with prolonged exposure, long-term health impacts to the general population should be negligible.
“It will eventually dissipate,” says Bartlett. “Just atmospheric mixing will dilute that to a level that won’t be a problem for most of the population.”
Any runoff of the acid into the ocean will also have minimal effects, according to Bartlett.
WATCH: President of BC Hazmat David Rogers explains exposure to trichloroisocyanuric acid can be a moderate skin, eye and respiratory irritant.
Both Rogers and Bartlett say people should get inside if at all possible.
“My concern is folks to help the folks that don’t have places to go,” says Rogers.
“If you’re getting that chlorine smell, there is potentially an exposure.”
WATCH: Air pollution specialist Dr. Karen Bartlett talks to Global News about the chemicals in the smoke from the Port of Vancouver fire
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