Beirut Ammonium Nitrate Blast: Analysis, Review, and Recommendations

Frontiers in Public Health

Firas Kobeissy¹  Stefania Mondello²  Hassan R. Dhaini³  Haytham Kaafarani⁴  Samar Al-Hajj⁵  Ralph G. DePalma⁶ 

[1] Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon;Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy;Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon;Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States;Health Management and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon;Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, United States;

关键词: ammonium nitrate explosion;    blast injury;    Beirut;    emergency preparedness;    health hazard;    traumatic brain injury;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpubh.2021.657996

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

A massive chemical detonation occurred on August 4, 2020 in the Port of Beirut, Lebanon. An uncontrolled fire in an adjacent warehouse ignited ~2,750 tons of Ammonium Nitrate (AN), producing one of the most devastating blasts in recent history. The blast supersonic pressure and heat wave claimed the lives of 220 people and injured more than 6,500 instantaneously, with severe damage to the nearby dense residential and commercial areas. This review represents one of the in-depth reports to provide a detailed analysis of the Beirut blast and its health and environmental implications. It further reviews prior AN incidents and suggests actionable recommendations and strategies to optimize chemical safety measures, improve emergency preparedness, and mitigate the delayed clinical effects of blast and toxic gas exposures. These recommended actionable steps offer a starting point for government officials and policymakers to build frameworks, adopt regulations, and implement chemical safety protocols to ensure safe storage of hazardous materials as well as reorganizing healthcare system disaster preparedness to improve emergency preparedness in response to similar large-scale disasters and promote population safety. Future clinical efforts should involve detailed assessment of physical injuries sustained by blast victims, with systemic mitigation and possible treatment of late blast effects involving individuals, communities and the region at large.

【 授权许可】

CC BY