Beyond the Beirut explosion: The many dangers of ammonium nitrate
4 years, 1 month ago

Beyond the Beirut explosion: The many dangers of ammonium nitrate

Al Jazeera  

Ammonium nitrate use can not only lead to tragedies like the Beirut blast but also cause much harm to nature and humans. On August 4, 2020, nearly 2,750 tonnes of improperly stored ammonium nitrate exploded in the seaport in Beirut, killing more than 200 people, injuring more than 6,000, and displacing thousands from their homes. Nitrogen fertiliser production accounts for nearly 1.2 percent of global primary energy demand, generates pollutants like fine dust, nitric acid emissions, and produces wastewater that may contain phosphorus, fluorides, ammonia, carbon dioxide, or weak acids. In order to avoid future incidents like the explosion in Beirut, but also tackle climate change and environmental degradation, we have to curb the use of ammonium nitrate.

Environment Food Global Climate Change Change Climate Food Security Earth Fertiliser Beirut Nitrogen Fertilisers Ammonium Nitrate Dead Zones  climate  beirut  fertilisers  fertiliser  change  nitrogen  global  environment  nitrate  dangers  explosion  food  ammonium

History of this topic

Infographic: How big was the Beirut explosion?
2 years, 7 months ago

Infographic: How big was the Beirut explosion?

Al Jazeera  

It has been two years since a massive explosion shook Lebanon’s capital, killing 218 people and injuring 7,000. On August 4, 2020, a massive explosion in the Port of Beirut ripped through Lebanon’s capital, killing 218 people, injuring 7,000 and leaving 300,000 displaced. Here are some key events since August 4, 2020: August 4, 2020 – Beirut port explosion. November …

What we still don’t know about Beirut’s port explosion
3 years, 7 months ago

What we still don’t know about Beirut’s port explosion

CNN  

Beirut, Lebanon CNN — It’s been a year since one of the world’s largest ever non-nuclear explosions ripped through Lebanon’s capital, killing more than 200 people. At just after 6 p.m. on August 4, 2020, hundreds of metric tons of ammonium nitrate ignited, sparking the massive blast in the city’s port. “Speculation that Hezbollah may have wanted to destroy the …

A year on, politicians accused of hindering Beirut blast justice
3 years, 7 months ago

A year on, politicians accused of hindering Beirut blast justice

Al Jazeera  

Rights groups and families of victims accuse officials of stalling the probe into the devastating port explosion. The officials include General Security chief Major-General Abbas Ibrahim, State Security head Major-General Tony Saliba, ex-Finance Minister Ali Hasan Khalil, former Public Works Ministers Ghazi Zeiter and Yousef Finianos, and ex-Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk. “Parliament is very interested in lifting immunity, but in …

Syrian businessmen linked to firm that bought Beirut explosives
4 years, 2 months ago

Syrian businessmen linked to firm that bought Beirut explosives

Al Jazeera  

One of the businessmen had previously been accused of trying to procure ammonium nitrate for the Syrian government. Open-source information on the UK website – first aired by Lebanese documentary filmmaker Firas Hatoum on local news channel Al Jadeed on Tuesday – shows that companies formerly directed by Haswani and Imad Khuri have the same stated addresses as Savaro Limited, …

Lebanon asks Interpol to detain two Russians over Beirut blast
4 years, 5 months ago

Lebanon asks Interpol to detain two Russians over Beirut blast

Al Jazeera  

Interpol asked to detain captain and owner of ship that carried thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate to Beirut seven years ago. The lead investigator into the August blast at Beirut’s port that killed almost 200 and wounded thousands has issued arrest warrants for the captain and owner of a ship that carried thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate to …

Lebanon: Over 4 tonnes of ammonium nitrate found near Beirut port
4 years, 6 months ago

Lebanon: Over 4 tonnes of ammonium nitrate found near Beirut port

Al Jazeera  

Lebanon’s army said it found the chemical near the entrance to Beirut port, the site of a powerful explosion last month. Lebanon’s army has found 4.35 tonnes of ammonium nitrate near the entrance to Beirut port, the site of a powerful explosion last month, caused by a large stockpile of the same highly explosive chemical, that killed 191 people. The …

‘End of the world': Countdown to Beirut’s devastating blast
4 years, 7 months ago

‘End of the world': Countdown to Beirut’s devastating blast

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — The 10 firefighters who received the call a bit before 6 p.m. about a big fire at the nearby port of Beirut could not know what awaited them. The brigade of nine men and one woman could not know about the stockpile of ammonium nitrate warehoused since 2013 along a busy motorway in the heart of a densely …

‘End of the world': Countdown to Beirut’s devastating blast
4 years, 7 months ago

‘End of the world': Countdown to Beirut’s devastating blast

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — The 10 firefighters who received the call shortly before 6 p.m. — a big fire at the nearby port of Beirut — could not know what awaited them. ___ Seven years ago, a ship named the Rhosus set out from the Georgian Black Sea port of Batumi carrying 2,755.5 tons of ammonium nitrate destined for an explosives company …

Senegal: Tonnes of explosive ammonium nitrate kept at Dakar port
4 years, 7 months ago

Senegal: Tonnes of explosive ammonium nitrate kept at Dakar port

Al Jazeera  

Port authority says it requested removal of 2,700 tonnes of the explosive material following the massive Beirut blast. The port of Senegal’s capital Dakar said it requested the removal of about 2,700 tonnes of highly explosive ammonium nitrate stored in its complex – almost the same volume of the chemical that caused Beirut’s devastating blast this month. The unidentified owner …

After Beirut, Experts Warn Of 'Dangerous Gaps' In U.S. Oversight Of Ammonium Nitrate
4 years, 7 months ago

After Beirut, Experts Warn Of 'Dangerous Gaps' In U.S. Oversight Of Ammonium Nitrate

NPR  

After Beirut, Experts Warn Of 'Dangerous Gaps' In U.S. Sponsor Message On the federal side, the Department of Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board as well as the departments of Transportation and Agriculture all have some piece of …

Beirut protesters hurl rocks at security forces in second day of anger toward government over devastating blast
4 years, 7 months ago

Beirut protesters hurl rocks at security forces in second day of anger toward government over devastating blast

ABC  

Beirut has witnessed a second day of violent anti-government demonstrations in the aftermath of the explosion that killed 158 people and injured thousands. Key points: An estimated 10,000 people gathered to protest against the government Protesters called for revolution, complaining of government inaction The information and environment ministers have both resigned over the government's failure to carry out reforms Thousands …

Beirut explosion impact: 740 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate being moved from Chennai to Hyderabad
4 years, 7 months ago

Beirut explosion impact: 740 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate being moved from Chennai to Hyderabad

India TV News  

Taking action after Lebanon's Beirut deadly explosions that devastated the city killing hundreds and injuring thousands of people, Ammonium Nitrate weighing 740 tonnes stored in 37 containers at a container freight station is now being moved to Hyderabad in a phased manner, said an official of the CFS. 740-tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate arrived in India in 2015 from Korea A …

After Beirut, Must Chennai Worry About Ammonium Nitrate Stockpile?
4 years, 7 months ago

After Beirut, Must Chennai Worry About Ammonium Nitrate Stockpile?

The Quint  

A consignment of 740 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that has been lying in a Chennai customs warehouse for around five years is raising some red flags just days after Beirut's catastrophic blast. On 4 August, an estimated 2,750-tonnes of ammonium nitrate, that had been stored reportedly for over six years in a port warehouse in Beirut, without proper safety protocols, …

After deadly explosion in Beirut, ammonium nitrate fertiliser under regulatory scrutiny again
4 years, 7 months ago

After deadly explosion in Beirut, ammonium nitrate fertiliser under regulatory scrutiny again

Firstpost  

For many reasons other than regulation, farmers have switching to using urea over ammonium nitrate over the years, analysts say. Widely used and produced The world’s annual production of ammonium nitrate is over 20 million tonnes, which means the amount that exploded in Beirut is made almost every hour.Storing hundreds or even thousands of tonnes in the same place is …

Beirut’s accidental cargo: How an unscheduled port visit led to disaster
4 years, 7 months ago

Beirut’s accidental cargo: How an unscheduled port visit led to disaster

Live Mint  

MOSCOW: The chemicals that went up in flames in Beirut's deadliest peace-time explosion arrived in the Lebanese capital seven years ago on a leaky Russian-leased cargo ship that, according to its captain, should never have stopped there. "They were being greedy," said Boris Prokoshev, who was captain of the Rhosus in 2013 when he says the owner told him to …

690 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate stored near Chennai sparks fear of Beirut-like blast; no threat, say Customs
4 years, 7 months ago

690 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate stored near Chennai sparks fear of Beirut-like blast; no threat, say Customs

Firstpost  

The storage of the chemical in Chennai became a cause for serious concern in the backdrop of the explosion of the chemical in Beirut on Tuesday, which killed 135 people and injured around 4,000 Customs authorities on Thursday sought to allay fears over safety regarding the storage of nearly 700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate at a container freight near the …

700 Tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate Stored in Chennai Safe, E-auction Done: Customs after Beirut Blast
4 years, 7 months ago

700 Tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate Stored in Chennai Safe, E-auction Done: Customs after Beirut Blast

News 18  

Customs authorities on Thursday sought to allay fears over safety regarding the storage of nearly 700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate at a container freight station near Chennai. The chemical worth Rs 1.80 crore was seized from a Tamil Nadu-based importer in 2015 who had allegedly declared it as fertiliser grade although it was an explosive grade, a Customs official said. …

Govt orders urgent verification of explosives in ports, warehouses after Beirut blast
4 years, 7 months ago

Govt orders urgent verification of explosives in ports, warehouses after Beirut blast

Live Mint  

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs directed customs and field formations to immediately verify and confirm the within 48 hours that any hazardous and explosive material lying in warehouses and ports across the country meets all safety and fire standards and presents no danger to life and property. A huge blast in port warehouses near central Beirut storing …

What is ammonium nitrate, the chemical fertiliser blamed for the Beirut explosion?
4 years, 7 months ago

What is ammonium nitrate, the chemical fertiliser blamed for the Beirut explosion?

Firstpost  

The Beirut blast was one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in recent history, according to Brian Castner, lead weapons investigator for Amnesty International’s Crisis Response Team Lebanese officials say that thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse at the port in Beirut caused the powerful explosion that devastated the city on Tuesday, killing more than 130 people, …

What is ammonium nitrate, the chemical that exploded in Beirut?
4 years, 7 months ago

What is ammonium nitrate, the chemical that exploded in Beirut?

ABC  

The Lebanese capital Beirut was rocked on Tuesday evening local time by an explosion that has killed more than 100 people and injured thousands more. The country's prime minister, Hassan Diab, said the blast was caused by around 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored near the city's cargo port. Beirut's ammonium nitrate stockpile Lebanon's Prime Minister says about 2,750 tonnes …

Beirut blast: Confiscated ammonium nitrate from ship in 2014 could have sparked deadly explosion
4 years, 7 months ago

Beirut blast: Confiscated ammonium nitrate from ship in 2014 could have sparked deadly explosion

India Today  

The mysterious blast at the Beirut port that has already killed over 100 people and wounded thousands has put the lens of suspicion on a ship impounded with 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate in 2014 raising questions on authorities. It’s still unclear what triggered the explosion but the unloaded ammonium nitrate from the ship dumped in a warehouse at the …

Lebanon explosion: What is ammonium nitrate, which authorities claim to be behind the blast
4 years, 7 months ago

Lebanon explosion: What is ammonium nitrate, which authorities claim to be behind the blast

The Hindu  

Ammonium nitrate, which Lebanese authorities have said was the cause of the Beirut blast, is an odourless crystalline substance commonly used as a fertiliser that has been the cause of numerous industrial explosions over the decades. When combined with fuel oils, ammonium nitrate creates a potent explosive widely used by the construction industry, but also by insurgent groups like the …

Ammonium Nitrate, Which Caused Beirut Blast, Has a Bloodied Past With Several Industrial Accidents
4 years, 7 months ago

Ammonium Nitrate, Which Caused Beirut Blast, Has a Bloodied Past With Several Industrial Accidents

News 18  

Ammonium nitrate, which Lebanese authorities have said was the cause of the Beirut blast, is an odorless crystalline substance commonly used as a fertilizer that has been the cause of numerous industrial explosions over the decades. When combined with fuel oils, ammonium nitrate creates a potent explosive widely used by the construction industry, but also by insurgent groups like the …

Beirut blast: Tracing the explosives that tore the capital apart
4 years, 7 months ago

Beirut blast: Tracing the explosives that tore the capital apart

Al Jazeera  

Letters show officials knew of danger posed by ammonium nitrate cargo at Beirut port six years before deadly blast. Beirut, Lebanon – It was only after a massive explosion ripped through Beirut that most people in Lebanon learned about the 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored in a hangar at the city’s port. Analysis of public records and documents published …

Beirut's explosion was a massive store of ammonium nitrate blowing up. Here's what else we know
4 years, 7 months ago

Beirut's explosion was a massive store of ammonium nitrate blowing up. Here's what else we know

ABC  

Video of a massive explosion tearing through Beirut makes for shocking viewing. But Lebanon's Interior Minister said the blast was a store of about 2,750 tonnes of seized ammonium nitrate blowing up. During a televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Hassan Diab said details about the "dangerous warehouse" would be made public. The explosion came amid ongoing tensions between …

Lebanon: What we know about deadly Beirut explosion, in 500 words
4 years, 7 months ago

Lebanon: What we know about deadly Beirut explosion, in 500 words

Al Jazeera  

PM Hassan Diab says 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored in warehouse by port had blown up, sparking ‘a disaster’. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab said 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, an agricultural fertiliser, stored in a portside warehouse had blown up, sparking “a disaster in every sense of the word”. Lebanon’s General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim said the material …

Beirut explosion raises fresh concern about Newcastle's much larger ammonium nitrate stockpile
4 years, 7 months ago

Beirut explosion raises fresh concern about Newcastle's much larger ammonium nitrate stockpile

ABC  

The deadly Beirut blast that killed more than 100 people has driven fresh calls for a large ammonium nitrate stockpile and plant in Newcastle, storing up to four times the amount reportedly detonated in the blast, to be relocated away from residents. Key points: Between 6,000 and 12,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate is stored at Orica's Kooragang plant in Newcastle …

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