%0 Journal Article
%A Michael D Sohn
%A William W Delp
%A Richard N Fry
%A Yang-Seon Kim
%B Atmospheric Environment
%D 2019
%G eng
%P 83 - 89
%R 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2019.05.010
%T Analysis of a series of urban-scale chlorine dispersion experiments and implications on indoor health consequences
%V 212
%8 09/2019
%! Atmospheric Environment
%X <p>In the United States, industrial compounds are routinely transported by rail in pressurized vessels, often near urban areas. A rupture of a vessel, for example due to a derailment, can result in the rapid release of a liquid-aerosol-gas mixture. The health consequences of such a release, especially close to population centers, are not well understood. To address this question, a series of controlled experimental releases of pressurized chlorine (Cl<sub>2</sub>) was conducted at the Dugway Proving Ground (Dugway, Utah). Each trial consisted of the sudden breach of a tank containing at least 4,500 kg (kg) of pressurized liquid Cl<sub>2</sub>. In this paper, we report on measured Cl<sub>2</sub> concentrations in three test structures downwind of the release. Based on these data, we estimate the indoor-outdoor exchange, transport through a multi-room structure, and the first-order loss rate due to reaction or sorption. This loss rate is particularly important for consequence assessment. For example, in a mobile office with a ventilation rate of about three air changes per hour, the reaction loss rate was approximately 2.5 h<sup>−1</sup>. This accounts for a nearly 20 percent reduction in toxic load to indoor occupants. Finally, the paper discusses the modeling and analysis of a typical urban hazard assessment.</p>