@Foxtrot Alpha @Dubious thank you very much for tagging me into this post. I deliberately avoided commenting for a number of reasons which I will list below:
1. The culprit being named "soybean dust" due to this report is premature:
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2. The CBRNE team being called out to this incident is for a few reasons: Our shipping. ports and private sector have NO HAZMAT: Hazardous Material testing and handling capacity. The only bodies that have any ability to deal with CBRNE: Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive materials are Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy and Rescue 1122 has a limited capacity on HAZMAT within it's (Disaster Response Team). Due to National security implications and threats exceeding the training and experience of civilian responders, any possibility of HAMZAT (Pakistan Army is the Lead Agency).
3. Please refer to this photo:
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The photo above shows respirators with 66E/EN141 rated filters for "Acid gas". Whilst the unloading of soybeans may have cast dust into the area the large area around the port and the mention of "rotten egg" smell points to a particular gas used in fumigation and a byproduct of mishandling of oil products:
H2S: Hydrogen Sulphide
Please refer to this report:
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How dangerous is H2S:
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The US DOT Hazmat Diamond warning used internationally should be placed on any areas where air testing revels the possibility of H2S such as presence of slurry gas, fumigation and oil processing. What does this symbol mean?
Blue Diamond: Health Hazard
Risk rating 3 = Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury even though prompt medical attention was given
Red Diamond: Flammability
Risk rating 3 = Liquids and solids than can be ignited under almost all ambient conditions
Yellow Diamond: Instability
Risk rating 3 = Capable of detonation or explosive reaction, but requires a strong initiating source or must be heated under confinement before initiation, or reacts explosively with water.
White Diamond: SPECIAL HAZARD (OX = Oxidizer) = Allows chemicals to burn without an air supply
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A sample container with Warning diamonds which warn handlers about the contents for example, this container has contents that are highly flammable, corrosive and post a serious inhalation risk.
Due to national security implications I can't comment on the testing kit carried by Pakistan Army only to say it includes a range of devices such as dosimeters, air quality monitors, multi gas detectors, Geiger counters and trace/vapour detectors.
Coming back to this thread, this is a simple case of lack of health and safety, even if soy bean dust is one of the culprits behind the illness faced by these people, why were filter bags not placed on silos when unloading the containers?
Why are dock staff not trained to recognise HAZMAT warnings, why are safety officers not deputed on sites, PPE should be provided to match the risk assessment of each individual activity. Sadly this is just another example of "life is cheap" in Pakistan.