R EFER ENCE your news report `200 people fall sick af ter ammonia leak in a diammonia phosphate ( DAP) plant in Chittagong (Aug 24). A photo with the report shows a family of five wearing masks.
Such accidents happen when there is a series of failures in the operating and maintenance systems. All we can do is to be ready to face the eventualities.
Ammonia is produced in all fertiliser plants in Pakistan and such a possibility exists in Karachi too. There are villages and even cities (Multan ) around fertiliser plants in Pakistan. These neighbouringcommunities should be educated by the fertiliser plant personnel about how to deal with such emergencies. It is also used extensively in cold storage refrigeration plants and ice factories whose neighbours are oblivious of what ammonia is and how to deal with it when it leaks.
The mask these Chittagong people are shown wearing are common dust masks which offer no protection against ammonia gas leak. I recommend special gas masks with disposable cartridges suitable for ammonia gas.
Ammonia is soluble in water and the best way to deal with it is by wetting a towel or a piece of cloth and putting it on the face.
